Could the New York Giants swing a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals to acquire wide receiver Tee Higgins?
The Bengals placed a franchise tag on Higgins to prevent him from reaching free agency, but it does not necessarily mean that Higgins will be with the team in 2024.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, some at the Scouting Combine believed that the reason Cincinnati tagged Higgins so quickly was so it would have ample time to trade him.
Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin was somewhat diplomatic when asked about the chances of Higgins being dealt this offseason, and while Cincy seems to prefer to keep the wide out on the roster heading into next year, financial constraints may keep the front office from doing so.
If that ends up being the case, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport sees the Giants as a potential landing spot for the Clemson product.
New York is certainly in desperate need of help at receiver. Yes, the team has talented young pass-catchers like Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt, but the Giants need a proven threat at the position, something they haven’t really had since Odell Beckham Jr.
Higgins has been the No. 2 receiver in Cincinnati for the past three years, but he would instantly become the top target in the Big Apple.
The 25-year-old is actually coming off of a disappointing 2023 campaign in which he played just 12 games due to injury, finishing with 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns.
However, we have seen what Higgins can do when he is healthy.
After being taken by the Bengals in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, he burst on to the scene by catching 67 passes for 908 yards and six scores during his rookie year. He followed that up by hauling in 74 receptions for 1,091 yards while reaching the end zone six times in his sophomore season, and in 2022, he posted nearly identical numbers, snaring 74 balls for 1,029 yards and seven touchdowns.
Cincinnati also has to worry about signing fellow receiver Ja’Marr Chase to a contract extension, so it may not be able to keep both Chase and Tee Higgins around for the long haul.
The Giants could then ultimately reap the benefits of a potential roster crunch for the Bengals.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
