The New England Patriots’ rebuild is still in its early stages, but they do have some key players in place, such as rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
However, for Maye to reach his full potential, the team’s wide receiver group needs significant improvement.
One free agent receiver the Patriots are reportedly interested in is Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic.
Graff suggests that the Patriots will likely make a strong push for Higgins, given their past interest in established receivers. He expects New England to offer a substantial deal, though the question remains whether Higgins will accept. The Bengals placed a franchise tag on Higgins, securing him a 2024 salary of $21.8 million. Spotrac forecasts that Higgins, 25, will receive a three-year, $66.7 million contract, with an annual average value of $22.2 million.
This AAV would make him the 19th highest-paid receiver, just behind Stefon Diggs ($22.5 million). However, given the rising value of the position, he may command even more.
In his five seasons, Higgins has recorded 300 receptions for 4,242 yards and 29 touchdowns. He missed five games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury, and he faced a similar issue at the start of the 2024 season, sitting out the first two games.
