With a lot of cap space to utilize and almost an entire roster to improve, the Patriots have a tall task ahead of them during the 2025 offseason. They can start things off on the right foot by putting together an impressive free agency class of signings, starting with some of the more dire positions in need of help, one of which is wide receiver.
It has been one of the weakest groups on the team for several years, and there was little hope that anything significant would be done to change that when Bill Belichick was holding the pocketbook for all those years. However, now that Mike Vrabel is in charge, optimism has increased regarding the chances of a top-tier talent walking through the doors of Gillette Stadium to become the next New England Patriot.
That means upcoming free agents like Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, Tee Higgins, and DeAndre Hopkins will be at the forefront of the list, with most of the focus continuing to be on the current Bengals pass catcher.
As the youngest of the group and the best potential to mesh well with quarterback Drake Maye, it's expected that the Patriots will heavily pursue Higgins as soon as free agency begins, even if the Bengals decide to franchise tag him again.
The problem with that, however, is they are projected to have a bumpier road in their pursuit of the star receiver which ESPN's Dan Graziano detailed last week.
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The Patriots will have to pull out all the stops to sign Tee Higgins over teams in a better position
The thought behind the Patriots' potential success in signing quality free agents like Higgins this offseason has solely been that they can offer them more money than almost any other team in the league, and they might have to. Because they're a team presumed to be at least a year away from being competitive, they're not the most desirable place to go especially for a younger player hoping to win a championship.
That might force them to pay more than they probably should to get some of them in the door, and fortunately, they have the means to do that this offseason.
That will probably be the case with Higgins, as Graziano projects he will garner a "four-year deal worth $114 million, with $70 million guaranteed." That's a hefty payday for the 26-year-old and quite a change in approach for the historically cheap Patriots.
The NFL insider also predicts that several teams will be looking to sign Higgins, decreasing the Patriots' chances of completing a deal as soon as possible.
“It’s also possible Higgins could benefit from a multiple-team bidding war and drive that number higher,” Graziano wrote. “The Patriots, Bills, Commanders, Ravens, Chiefs, Chargers and Panthers are just a few of the teams that could be looking to sign a high-end wide receiver this offseason.”
The list of teams expected to be in on Higgins is concerning, but it's worse to see teams like the Bills, Commanders, Ravens, and Chiefs listed when they're all in much better spots to make a Super Bowl next year than New England is. If that's what Higgins is pursuing, they're SOOL before free agency even begins.
Of course, the hope is that Higgins will meet with multiple teams and consider all the options before making his final decision. That might be the only way the Patriots have a real chance to have him sign on the dotted line and give Maye the ultimate WR1 they desperately want on the roster.
Otherwise, they'll have to look elsewhere, which seems bleak than most realize.