Patriots Rumors: How Franchise Feels About Possible Tee Higgins Pursuit

The Patriots are certainly in a position to improve their entire roster through the draft and free agency this offseason.

One of their top priorities is to find a true No. 1 receiver to become Drake Maye’s top target, and Tee Higgins had been linked to the Patriots since January.

However, reports of possible impending free agency for Higgins came to a screeching halt when the Bengals announced their intentions of franchise-tagging the star wide receiver for the second consecutive season, if a new deal couldn’t be reached by the March 4 deadline.

One Patriots insider is not convinced that if the Bengals and Higgins can’t agree on a new deal, New England won’t be in on the sweepstakes.

“Let’s address the elephant in the room, which is Tee Higgins. Nothing that I heard from people who know changed my viewpoint. If he becomes available, the Patriots will be a suitor,” Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giradi wrote on Thursday. “But, as of right now, the wideout is unavailable, and the Bengals continue prioritizing Higgins, even over Trey Hendrickson.

“I know there’s another report out there — unsourced — that suggests the Pats wouldn’t be in the mix, but Higgins has fans in the organization and would be someone they’d be comfortable spending money on — or, as a source said, as comfortable as you can be at that price (expected to be over $30 million per).”

The Bengals drafted Higgins at the top of the second round in 2020, the same year they drafted Burrow. However, after drafting Ja’Marr Chase the following year, the latter leaped to the top of the system, and Cincinnati has the task of extending him this offseason.

Higgins is still a first-rate receiver who racked up 911 yards and put up a career-high 10 touchdowns in 12 games last season. The Patriots could certainly use that type of production at wideout.

Of course, another report circulated earlier this week that the Patriots’ “blueprint for improvements” didn’t include Higgins.

Right now, the Patriots fans can only wait and see how the Bengals-Higgins saga plays out.