Patriots named top landing spot for Tee Higgins (again) amid Brandon Aiyuk rumors

The New England Patriots did an excellent job in the offseason of retaining core players, especially on defense. One thing the Patriots failed to do in free agency is improve the offensive side of the ball. The Patriots addressed the offensive line and wide receiver position in the draft, but are still missing a transcendent piece.

The missing piece for the Patriots could be Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. The Bengals wideout will play on the franchise tag at roughly $21.8 million this season after failing to secure a contract extension.

According to Garrett Podell of CBS Sports, the Patriots could be among the best landing spots for Higgins. 

"New England also has quarterback Drake Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which it's trying to develop. Providing him with a true No. 1 receiver would only accelerate his growth. Bills quarterback Josh Allen (Stefon Diggs), Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Tyreek Hill) and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (A.J. Brown) all took major leaps after their respective teams traded for a big-time wideout. The Patriots doing the same could have a similar effect down the road. "

Although Demario Douglas and Kendrick Bourne are excellent secondary pieces, the Patriots need a wide receiver that opposing defenses will fear. The Patriots have not had a player of this caliber since Rob Gronkowski, who left the team after the 2018 season. 

The Patriots have been searching for receiver help, with recent reports highlighting that the team reached out to the San Francisco 49ers about a Brandon Aiyuk trade. The Patriots reportedly offered a second-round pick and were willing to pay him close to $28 million per year.

It’s a good sign that the Patriots were interested in Aiyuk and willing to pay him a large contract. Higgins is the same caliber of player as Aiyuk, so the Patriots should be more than willing to pay for his services.

Last season, Higgins played in 12 games, catching 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns. For reference, only one Patriots receiver had more than two touchdowns last season, with Kendrick Bourne racking up four of them. Also, Higgins would have finished second in receptions behind Douglas and first in receiving yards if he was on the Patriots last season.

The key decision the Patriots have to make involves whether to trade for Higgins now or wait until he is a free agent. If the Patriots want to be competitive this season and win as many games as possible, they should trade for Higgins. The flip side is getting another high draft pick and then outright signing Higgins in free agency.

Ultimately, the Patriots need to find a true number-one receiver to pair with Drake Maye, and Higgins is the perfect fit.

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