HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Lions’ Jameson Williams Facing Gun Charge

October 29th, 2024 at 5:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is serving a two-game ban for a PED violation, but it is possible the third-year player could face additional NFL discipline under the personal conduct policy. A murky situation has developed in Detroit.

Officers placed Williams in handcuffs and nearly booked him on a gun charge, according to WXYZ’s Ross Jones, who reports the former first-round pick was to be taken to jail before being released from custody shortly prior to being booked. This incident occurred after midnight Oct. 8. This has brought a belated charge against the wide receiver, but the matter took a circuitous route to reach this point.

Williams and his brother were pulled over in Detroit, and the stop led to Williams — the passenger in the vehicle — admitting he was in possession of a gun without a concealed pistol license, Jones reports. The arresting officer informed Williams he would be taken into custody. The officer’s bodycam footage includes Williams repeatedly saying he was a Lions player. “I play for the Lions, bro. I’m Jameson Williams,” the 23-year-old wideout said. While Williams was placed in the back of a squad car, he was not taken to jail. His Lions status appears to have indeed proved beneficial — at least initially.

A sergeant who arrived to back up the arresting officers soon made several calls to superiors asking if Williams needed to be arrested on this gun charge, Ross reports, adding that the sergeant’s cellphone wallpaper included a Lions logo. The sergeant is heard indicating Williams would indeed be taken to jail on the charge, but a lieutenant then called back to indicate no booking would be necessary. The sergeant thanked the lieutenant, per Ross, and took Williams out of handcuffs.

Williams’ gun was soon returned as well, and no arrest warrant or police report initially emerged. An internal affairs investigation has since been launched, Ross reports, adding that a development last week has since resulted in Williams being hit with the gun charge he was set to face. This will ensure the Detroit pass catcher would be subject to another suspension, pending an NFL investigation.

One game remains on Williams’ PED ban. The Alabama alum has already run afoul of two NFL policies, having been popped under the gambling umbrella last year. Williams was found to have bet on non-NFL sporting events while on team grounds. A suspension under the personal conduct policy could now be in play.

Officers initially told Jones only one gun was found during the arrest, the one belonging to Williams’ brother, who had a license to carry. Police chief James White learning of the second gun — which resided under the passenger seat — led to portions of the bodycam video being shared, which has shed light on Williams’ actions that morning. The Lions released a statement indicating Williams informed them of the arrest, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds the team notified the league soon after.

“Jameson made us aware immediately that he was a passenger in a routine traffic stop on October 8th,” a Lions statement reads. “We discussed the incident with him and have kept the league informed of what we know. We understand he was released without incident or citation. It is now our understanding that the Detroit Police Department is revisiting the matter. Jameson has hired an attorney, and we will not be commenting further out of respect for the legal process.”

Given a more prominent role on offense following Josh Reynolds‘ free agency defection, Williams has shown promise in his third season. The Lions’ No. 2 wideout is averaging 21.2 yards per reception (17 catches, 361 yards) and has caught three touchdown passes. It is not certain a suspension would come, and the nature of this internal investigation may well point to any potential NFL discipline taking place in 2025. Still, Williams facing three suspensions in three years would introduce more hurdles as he attempts to make a case for a long-term run in Detroit.

Teams Inquiring On Panthers’ Jaycee Horn, Chuba Hubbard; Carolina Unlikely To Trade Bryce Young

October 29th, 2024 at 4:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers dealt Diontae Johnson to the Ravens earlier Tuesday, concluding the receiver’s short stay in Charlotte. Carolina had been expected to trade Johnson and should be considered likely to make more moves after a 1-7 start.

Teams are calling on two of the Panthers’ top players. Jaycee Horn and Chuba Hubbard are generating interest, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Hubbard has been mentioned as a player the Panthers are unlikely to trade, and Schultz adds the team is not planning to move the contract-year running back or Horn. The latter has come up at past trade deadlines but is signed through 2025.

While the Panthers are being classified as a team not set to conduct a fire sale, they are in danger of finishing with the NFL’s worst record for a second straight season. Only Carolina and Tennessee reside as one-win teams exiting Week 8. Unlike last season, however, the Panthers have the carrot of holding their first-round pick in 2025 — as opposed to the Bears doing so this year. The opportunity to either add the draft’s best player or its best quarterback — depending on what happens with Bryce Young — would appeal to a Panthers team with no playoff aspirations.

Dealing away more pieces would certainly strengthen Carolina’s chance of securing the No. 1 overall pick, though the team has not needed any such boost thus far. The Panthers have lost five straight, with each of their seven losses coming by double digits. More pieces are all but certain to go, but it does look like Carolina will either stop short of dealing Horn and Hubbard or set a high price on each.

Horn’s name came up in the wake of the October 2022 Matt Rhule firing, but the then-Scott Fitterer-run team did not appear to enter serious talks. The No. 8 overall pick in 2021 has also lost some value due to the significant foot and hamstring injuries. The latter issue kept Horn out of trade talks in 2023. Current GM Dan Morgan worked under Fitterer for much of the GM’s time in Charlotte but was not on staff when the cornerback was selected; Morgan returned to the Panthers just after the 2021 draft.

The Panthers picked up Horn’s fifth-year option, which calls for a $12.47MM fully guaranteed salary in 2025. That number checked in roughly $7MM south of 2021’s No. 9 overall pick, Patrick Surtain. The latter has become one of the NFL’s best defensive players; before extending him this offseason, the Broncos asked for two first-rounders to begin a trade conversation. Although Horn has shown flashes, it would certainly not take that much to pry him from Carolina. Pro Football Focus, however, ranks Horn 27th among corners this season. While the Panthers have dealt Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Brian Burns and now Johnson, they look to view Horn as a building-block player alongside Derrick Brown on defense.

Hubbard may not qualify as such on offense, but it should not be considered a certainty the former Rhule-era fourth-rounder leaves in free agency. The team has seen Hubbard take over as its starting back. While Miles Sanders is a trade chip, Hubbard would likely be prioritized to help second-round rookie Jonathon Brooks ease into action. Brooks is coming off an ACL tear sustained in November 2023. While he may well be the Panthers’ starter in 2025, the Texas product is unlikely to see a big workload once he comes off the reserve/PUP list this season.

As for Young’s status, the Panthers remain unlikely to move him before the Nov. 5 deadline, The Athletic’s Joe Person notes (subscription required). The optics of giving up Young for a haul potentially headlined by Day 3 picks would bring more negative publicity to a team that has endured plenty of it under owner David Tepper. Young also may be given a runway to bounce back during this season’s second half, especially as Andy Dalton battles a thumb sprain sustained in a car accident last week.

The Panthers would have the opportunity to trade Young in 2025 — a scenario that loomed as likely upon the team benching him before Week 3 — but have seen at least four teams call about the former Heisman winner. Young does not yet have enough snaps to qualify, but his 19.3 QBR would rank last this season.

Jaguars To Sign WR Velus Jones

October 29th, 2024 at 4:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Velus Jones went unclaimed on waivers but looks to have found a landing spot. The Jaguars are expected to add the free agent wide receiver, The33rdTeam’s Ari Meirov tweets.

Jacksonville just lost Christian Kirk for the season and is expected to be without emerging rookie Brian Thomas Jr. for a bit. As a result, the recently cut Bears receiver/returner/recent running back will head to Duval County. This is a practice squad addition, per the team.

Never taking off with Chicago, Jones received his walking papers late last week. Best known for his return-game work, Jones caught just 12 passes with the Bears. An offseason running back experiment did not lead to a long runway, as the Bears moved on with 1 1/2 seasons remaining on his rookie contract. That deal has since wrapped, with no team claiming Jones on waivers.

Jones worked as the Bears’ primary kick returner as a rookie and again in 2023, averaging more than 27 yards per return in both seasons. Jones ranked seventh and fifth in kick-return yards in 2022 and ’23, respectively, with 607 and 435. The Bears did not make him their returner following this offseason’s radical change to the kickoff; Jones returned just one kick this season. He did not factored into the Bears’ punt-return mix prominently throughout his Windy City stay.

Rushing for a touchdown as a rookie, Jones only logged two carries following this Bears offensive staff’s effort to try him in the backfield. The Jaguars have a greater need at receiver, with Kirk suffering a broken collarbone in Week 8 and Thomas encountering a groin injury. Gabe Davis remains a healthy option among Jags starters, and the team also rosters second-year cog Parker Washington and fourth-year UDFA Tim Jones. But roster adjustments will be needed soon; Jones now represents part of that equation.

The Jaguars also signed offensive lineman Blake Hance from the practice squad to their 53-man roster and released running back Jake Funk from their P-squad.

Jets’ Kicker Workout Includes Zane Gonzalez, Brayden Narveson, Cade York, Others

October 29th, 2024 at 3:40pm CST by Ben Levine

OCTOBER 29: Zane Gonzalez and the recently cut Brayden Narveson took part in the Jets’ kicker workout, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. The workout also included Patterson, York, Spencer Shrader and Andre Szmyt. Shrader kicked in one game for the Colts this season, filling in for Matt Gay. Szmyt has never kicked in an NFL game.

Narveson missed five field goals in six Packers games, doing so despite not attempting a 50-plus-yarder during his rookie season. The Pack cut him for Brandon McManus this month. Gonzalez has not kicked in a regular-season game since 2021 but was a regular for five straight seasons. The Commanders cut Patterson and traded for York in August, eventually moving on from the latter after Week 1. The Jets have not yet made a signing, but several options are on the radar.

OCTOBER 28: Greg Zuerlein‘s days in New York may be numbered. Following another dreadful outing from the Jets kicker, coach Jeff Ulbrich acknowledged that his team would hold a kicker competition this week (per ESPN’s Rich Cimini). Ulbrich added that the team intends to make a choice before Thursday’s matchup with the Texans, and he strongly hinted that Zuerlein may be sent packing.

“We’re exploring all the options right now,” Ulbrich said (via Brian Costello of the New York Post). “We really are. So we’re going to bring the kickers in for a workout, see where they stand and make a decision after that.”

This isn’t the first time this season that the Jets have considered pivoting away from Zuerlein. The team brought in Cade York, Riley Patterson, and Matt Coghlin earlier this month, but the Jets ended up sticking with the veteran for the time being.

Zuerlein has struggled during his age-37 season, with the kicker missing six of his 15 field goal attempts. In a three-point loss to the Patriots, ‘Greg The Leg’ missed a 44-yard attempt and an extra point. He previously missed a field goal in a one-point loss to the Broncos, and he missed a pair of FGAs during the Jets’ three-point loss to the Bills.

Following an underwhelming start to his New York tenure in 2022, Zuerlein seemed to bounce back in 2023, connecting on 35 of his 38 field goal attempts and 15 of his 16 XP tries. The Jets brought in Austin Seibert as some competition this offseason before ultimately deciding to stay with their incumbent. Seibert proceeded to join the Commanders, where he’s made a league-leading 23 of his 25 field goal attempts.

WR Rumors: Sutton, Chargers, Jets, Meyers

October 29th, 2024 at 2:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

It would be rather odd if the Broncos resisted trading Courtland Sutton at basically every NFL trade window since the 2022 deadline, when the veteran wide receiver established himself as one of this period’s trade-rumor mainstays, and then deal him during a somewhat promising season. But, stop if you’ve heard this before, Sutton is in play to be dealt. Some around the league view the seventh-year wideout as “50-50” to be moved before the Nov. 5 deadline, per Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline.

Sutton, 29, attempted to secure a raise from his $13MM base salary but only received a $1.7MM incentive package this offseason. Denver not budging would point to an openness to a trade, but the team declined a third-round pick for its top receiver from the 49ers, nixing what could have been a three-team trade with the Steelers during the Brandon Aiyuk saga. The Broncos had aimed for a second-rounder for Sutton during the 2023 offseason, progressing in talks with the Ravens before the AFC North club pivoted to an Odell Beckham Jr. signing, but centered their passing attack around him in Sean Payton‘s debut.

This season, the Broncos have needed Sutton to help Bo Nix‘s development. Sutton leads the team with 29 receptions for 377 yards this season, helping a club that is otherwise dependent on rookie-contract players — especially in light of the shooting involving Josh Reynolds. Marvin Mims has not become a factor on offense, as the 2023 second-rounder was viewed as the player the Broncos wanted to replace Jerry Jeudy. The Broncos have Sutton signed through 2025 on a team-friendly deal (four years, $60MM). No guarantees are in place beyond this season, likely opening the door to another round of trade rumors — in the event Denver hangs onto him before next week’s deadline.

With Diontae Johnson the latest receiver to move, here is the latest from the position’s trade market:

  • Josh Palmer appears headed to free agency after this season. The former Brandon Staley/Tom Telesco-era piece has not assimilated too well in Greg Roman‘s offense, totaling 15 receptions for 243 yards and no touchdowns this season. The former third-round pick, who operated as key injury insurance behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams under Staley, is not believed to be in the Chargers‘ long-term plans, Pauline adds. The Chargers have been linked to reacquiring Williams, and Pauline indicates the team would like to upgrade on Palmer, who has a chance to be traded. In a contract year, Palmer has a 769-yard season on his resume and has shown the ability to play in the slot and outside. The Chargers have seen Ladd McConkey take over their passing attack, though Palmer remains the team’s second-leading pass catcher.
  • Speaking of Williams, he remains with the Jets. That is unlikely to be the case much longer, especially with the team falling to 2-6. Viewed as a trade piece when the team was 2-4, Williams has caught just one pass since the Jets acquired Davante Adams. Tied to a one-year, $10MM deal, Williams is viewed a near-certainty to be dealt, according to the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora. Mentioning Christian Kirk‘s injury as a driver for the Williams market, La Canfora indicates the Jets had been trying to slow-play this market. (Though, Kirk’s injury did not seem to help the Panthers with Johnson’s trade value.) The Jets, who roster Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard as well, have also talked Williams with the Saints and Steelers, each of whom also pursued Adams. Gang Green is not interested in moving Wilson, keeping Williams as the most logical trade chip.
  • With Jakobi Meyers a Josh McDaniels pupil in New England who signed during the since-fired HC’s stay, he profiles as a trade chip for the Raiders. Las Vegas, however, had planned to hang onto the sixth-year wideout, La Canfora adds. Though, rival execs believe he could be a notable trade piece as the deadline approaches. Meyers, 28 next month, is due just more than $3MM in base salary post-Week 8 and is signed through 2025.

Chiefs Preferred Cooper Kupp To DeAndre Hopkins?

October 29th, 2024 at 1:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Patrick Mahomes‘ status as the league’s most accomplished active quarterback notwithstanding, the Chiefs’ megastar has not been nearly as productive over the past two seasons compared to his stratospheric first five as Kansas City’s starter. The two-time defending champions attempted to reignite their cornerstone player by revamping their receiving corps this offseason, but injuries intervened.

Rashee Rice is out for the season, and Marquise Brown is done for at least the regular season. Xavier Worthy is still developing, not yet offering much consistency despite his first-round draft status. With JuJu Smith-Schuster going down with a hamstring issue in Week 7, the Chiefs gave Mahomes another piece by acquiring DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans. Hopkins, who cost only a conditional fifth-round pick to acquire, debuted for his new team in Week 8.

[RELATED: Bills, Steelers Discussed Kupp With Rams]

The Chiefs had pursued Hopkins in a trade with the Cardinals last year and then made him an incentive-laden offer in free agency. Although they had done plenty of work on the potential Hall of Famer, the Chiefs may have been more interested in a player who recently came up in trade rumors. Before finalizing a Hopkins swap, the Chiefs engaged in talks with the Rams on Cooper Kupp. Kansas City looks to have preferred Kupp to Hopkins, per the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, but multiple factors kept the former Super Bowl MVP in Los Angeles.

The Rams may well have dangled Kupp, but they were mostly believed to be on the receiving end of calls rather than making them. L.A. wanted a second-round pick, and while the team was open to taking on some of Kupp’s remaining base salary (nearly $9MM ahead of Week 9), Kansas City was not in position to acquire a player with a lofty paragraph 5 number. The Chiefs and Titans are splitting the Hopkins tab, with the acquiring team having the 12th-year vet on its 2024 payroll at $5.56MM.

Kansas City restructured Jawaan Taylor‘s contract to create space for Hopkins, who is playing out a two-year deal worth $26MM. The Taylor adjustment, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates, created $5.3MM in cap space. Kansas City has not seen the right tackle addition live up to expectations, and the base-to-bonus restructure will make him more difficult to part ways with down the line. Taylor’s 2025 salary is already guaranteed, however, so this adjustment would stand to affect a 2026 separation.

As for Kupp, the Rams effectively took him off the market not long after the trade rumors swirled. Kupp and Puka Nacua returned in Week 8, helping the Rams upset the Vikings. L.A. is one game out of the NFC West lead and figures to use its standout receivers to make another playoff push, health-permitting, rather than unload a player who has contributed so much to the cause since he was drafted in Sean McVay‘s first year as HC.

Indeed, multiple GMs informed La Canfora they do not expect the 31-year-old wideout to be moved. Kupp’s injury past and the Rams’ high asking price never seemed to support a trade. Kupp is still signed through the 2026 season; $5MM in guarantees remain on the three-year, $80.1MM contract following this season.

The Chiefs will move forward with Hopkins, who stands to help free up space for Worthy, Travis Kelce and Co. as a now-defense-powered version of Andy Reid‘s juggernaut will attempt to hold off challengers in the coming months.

Giants Setting High Prices On Darius Slayton, Azeez Ojulari

October 29th, 2024 at 12:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dropping to 2-6 Monday night, the Giants have the look of a seller at yet another trade deadline. Though, the team’s two clear trade chips may not be too easy to acquire.

The Giants have swatted away Darius Slayton trade rumors this summer, but they did not agree to a major contract adjustment despite the sixth-year wide receiver’s push for one this offseason. Slayton remains in a walk year and would not be expensive to acquire, based on barely $1MM remaining in 2024 base salary. Azeez Ojulari has also come up as a trade candidate, with teams undoubtedly monitoring the contract-year edge rusher on a contract-year tear. Ojulari is tied to a second-round rookie deal.

New York has completed some notable seller’s trades at recent deadlines, and a route back to the playoffs will be difficult to complete. A week away from the deadline, however, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo writes the Giants would need to be “blown away” by an offer to obtain either Slayton or Ojulari.

Although the Giants do not appear prepared to merely take what they can get for the dependable wideout and resurgent edge rusher, it would stand to reason both players are available at a price. Slayton is playing out a two-year, $12MM deal and, after leading the Giants in receiving yardage four times since his 2019 rookie year, the longtime Daniel Jones target would appeal to clubs who have suffered injuries at receiver or contenders who could simply use a WR2 upgrade. He has 29 receptions for 420 yards this season. Yet to post an 800-plus-yard slate, Slayton is on pace for a career-best season.

Ojulari, who registered eight sacks as a rookie but had been less productive over the past two seasons, supplied solid pressure in the Giants’ loss to the Steelers to run his sack count to six. That has helped the Giants lead the NFL with 35 despite losing Kayvon Thibodeaux to a wrist injury. Thibodeaux, however, is expected to come off IR — being first eligible to do so next week — and return Ojulari to a rotational role in a now-Brian Burns-fronted OLB corps. With Burns on a megadeal and Thibodeaux in play to stay on his rookie pact through 2026 via the fifth-year option, the Giants may not be able to afford to re-sign Ojulari.

The Giants will need to weigh the offers that come in now against what could potentially be had in terms of 2026 compensatory picks — depending on how active the team is during the 2025 free agency period — next year. Though, a trade would help bolster the the team’s 2025 draft arsenal. Waiting for 2026 picks may not be of interest to Joe Schoen, who is on the hot seat. John Mara‘s recent vote of confidence notwithstanding, the third-year Giants GM may not be overly interested in trades that weaken his 2024 roster, either.

A Giants loss to the NFC East-leading Commanders in Week 9 would drop them to 2-7, and it would be difficult for teams to believe they won’t sell at that point. Based on where the team resides in the standings and the contract-year statuses of the trade chips, Slayton and Ojulari will be two will be key names to monitor ahead of the Nov. 5 deadline.

Diontae Johnson Trade Remains Likely; Multiple Teams Interested In Panthers WR

October 29th, 2024 at 12:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cooper Kupp was floated as a trade candidate, but the Rams expect to retain him past the November 5 deadline. With the Jaguars’ Christian Kirk suffering a broken collarbone, he too is no longer a option for teams looking to add at the receiver spot.

That leaves Diontae Johnson as one of the names to watch over the coming days. A weekend report deemed it likely a trade would be worked out between the Panthers and a contending team looking to add him for the stretch run. Indeed, Joe Person of The Athletic notes it appears to be “a matter of when, not if” Johnson winds up being traded (subscription required). Echoing that sentiment, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline adds Carolina is unhappy with the pending free agent (who was hurt this past week), something which could point further to a trade taking place.

The Panthers acquired Johnson from the Steelers this offseason after the 28-year-old asked to be moved. One year remains on his pact, which includes a base salary of $7MM. Absorbing the prorated portion of that figure would be feasible for a number of teams, although Johnson has expressed a desire to remain in Carolina. Without any extension talks having taken place – and with the 1-7 Panthers firmly in the seller’s category – though, it would come as no surprise if a deal were to be made.

Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports multiple buyers are showing interest, so Carolina could up the asking price if a sufficient market is generated. On the other hand, a mid-round pick was previously mentioned as an acceptable return, and Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post adds the Panthers are expected to “take whatever they can get” in deal involving either Johnson or fellow wideout Adam Thielen. Acquiring additional draft capital is an obvious goal for the rebuilding franchise, one which could very well have a new starting quarterback by Week 1 of next season.

The likes of edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney and running back Miles Sanders are also potential trade candidates in Carolina’s case. While one or both of those players could very well be on the move in the near future, the top name to watch remains Johnson.

Nick Sirianni Addresses Eagles’ Trade Deadline Approach

October 29th, 2024 at 10:36am CST by Adam La Rose

On Monday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke about his team’s intentions leading up to the trade deadline. While Detroit appears to be on the verge of a deal aimed at addressing the edge rush, the Eagles seem to be more content with their current roster.

“I love the team that we have,” head coach Nick Sirianni said when asked about Philadelphia’s deadline plans (video link). “And I think this team is really coming together. With that being said, I know we’re always looking for ways to improve our team. I know [general manager] Howie Roseman is the best at that… I admire that and value that of how he goes to work there.”

Indeed, Roseman has a reputation as one of the league’s most active general managers, so Sirianni’s comments certainly do not dismiss the possibility of a move being made. The Eagles lost two of four games prior to their bye week, but since then they have reeled of three consecutive wins. Topping the NFC East is therefore a distinct possibility as things stand, especially if further injuries on the offensive side of the ball can be avoided.

Philadelphia currently sits seventh in both total and scoring defense, and the recent return of second-year safety Sydney Brown has provided additional depth in the secondary. One area which could be targeted is the team’s pass rush; the Eagles have amassed 20 sacks through seven games, which places them in the bottom half of the league. Free agent pickup Bryce Huff has only managed 1.5 sacks and five pressures so far, production short of what he was expected to deliver upon signing a deal worth just over $17MM per year.

Za’Darius Smith of the Browns looms as a trade target along the edge, although his strongest connections have been with the Lions so far. If the Pro Bowler is not an option for Philadelphia, another veteran like Jadeveon Clowney of the Panthers could be of interest. With just over $10MM in cap space, the Eagles can afford a modest midseason acquisition if one becomes feasible.

Teams Calling Bengals About Tee Higgins; No Trade Expected

October 29th, 2024 at 9:50am CST by Adam La Rose

The wide receiver trade market has seen multiple high-profile moves made already. Davante Adams, Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins are no longer available, but several other wideouts are at least receiving interest as the deadline approaches.

That includes Tee Higgins, who is playing on the franchise tag in 2024. Teams are calling the Bengals about Higgins, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post writes. To little surprise, though, he adds that suitors do not expect Cincinnati to authorize a trade sending Higgins elsewhere.

Every other franchise tag recipient from 2024 wound up signing a contract to remain with their respective teams for 2024 and beyond. The lone exception was Higgins, and at no point this offseason did team and player appear close to reaching agreement on a deal. The Bengals’ most notable extension efforts came in 2023, and they did not reach $20MM per season on average.

The WR market has seen multiple financial surges recently, and at the age of 25 Higgins could stand to cash in considerably as a free agent. He could easily surpass the value the Bengals have for him, especially with Ja’Marr Chase still in need of a long-term accord. Talks with the latter took place up until the start of the regular season, but no agreement was reached. Chase currently leads the NFL in receiving yards, and he could very well find himself as the league’s highest-paid receiver on his second contract.

Higgins was limited to 12 games last year, and in 2024 a hamstring injury delayed his season debut. The Clemson product has racked up 341 yards and three touchdowns so far this season, and remaining productive alongside Chase will be key for the Bengals’ efforts to reach the playoffs. After starting 0-3, the team now sits at 3-5 on the year. That could lead to a seller’s stance in the build-up to next week’s deadline, but Higgins genuinely being available would be a surprise.

Any contending team would no doubt look to add Higgins not only as a rental but as a long-term investment in the passing game. The Jets, Bills and Chefs have each already added in that regard, but several suitors could still make a push to add over the coming days.

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