Tee Higgins was long known to be the top option at the receiver position in the 2025 free agent class. As the Bengals aim to keep him in place on a long-term pact, they are prepared to use the franchise tag on him for the second year in a row, however. 
Before it was learned Cincinnati would take that route, the Patriots were named on more than one occasion as a strong suitor. New England has ample cap space and the need to upgrade at the receiver position, so a lucrative offer would have come as no surprise. Now, the only way Higgins could be acquired would be through a tag-and-trade.
Even if the Bengals were to entertain such a move, though, New England may not be a suitor. Chad Graff of The Athletic reports the Patriots’ offseason plan “does not include” an attempt to trade for Higgins (subscription required). That marks a departure from the team’s previous stance, but a consensus does not appear to exist on this front. The Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi writes New England should in fact still be counted among the teams willing to pursue Higgins should a trade become feasible.
Regardless of how things shake out in that respect, Graff confirms to no surprise the Patriots intend to focus on making additions on the line of scrimmage this offseason. Upgrading multiple O-line spots represents an obvious priority given the way 2024 played out. If Davon Godchaux ends up being traded, meanwhile, adding at the defensive tackle spot will increasingly become important.
Still, Graff’s report states the Patriots intend to be active on the trade market as it pertains to wideouts. Two high-profile names – Cooper Kupp (Rams) and Deebo Samuel (49ers) – are known to be available. The former was informed by Los Angeles the team (which is willing to retain money in a deal) will be moving on, while the latter has seen San Francisco’s front office confirm it will honor his trade request. Early Samuel suitors have emerged, but the Patriots are not believed to be among them.
On that note, Giardi reports Samuel’s play against man coverage has been raised as a concern by teams at the Combine. The 29-year-old’s skillset makes him one of the more unique players in the league, but injuries in addition to his age could give suitors pause when contemplating a trade. Given their league-leading cap space (nearly $128MM), however, the Patriots are better equipped than many to absorb a notable contract in a deal and/or work out an extension with a new wideout upon arrival.
New head coach Mike Vrabel made it clear earlier this week he expects the Patriots to be aggressive in free agency. It will be interesting to see if the new league year also brings about movement on the trade front as the team looks to improve from its last-place finish in passing offense from 2024.
They’re not going after him because they don’t want to be embarrassed again and that’s y they’re going the trade route because that player doesn’t really have a say if the pats have the best offer on the table
They’d have to trade to get Higgins anyways lmao. What do you mean they don’t want to get embarrassed so they’re going the trade route?
He means that FA WR embarrassed the patriots by rejecting top dollars to sign elsewhere so the Patriots would be best to trade for one. Not a hard thing to figure out.
“so the Patriots would be best to trade for one. Not a hard thing to figure out.”
Higgins would have to be acquired via trade. For something that’s not hard to figure out, you don’t seem to have figured it out. Higgins is not a FA because the Bengals are franchise tagging him again.
It’s not official till they do he’s still technically heading for FA
Technically he’s under contract right now.
So if it’s best to trade for one, then why avoid Higgins since he would have to be traded for?
“ They’re not going after him (Higgins) because they don’t want to be embarrassed again and that’s y they’re going the trade route.”
Higgins isn’t a free agent when a franchise tag is applied to him. You do realize that franchise tag prohibits players from reaching free agency right?
So patriots not pursuing Higgins has nothing to do with free agency cause only way Higgins plays anywhere but Cincinnati next season is if he’s traded there.
How a franchise tag works is not a hard thing to understand
Ur so clueless he hasn’t been tag yet and he may not it’s the Bengals you can’t just go by what the rumors are as of right no he’s still heading for Free agency
Couldn’t make it past the first sentence of the article huh?
Literally the 2nd sentence of the article
“ As the Bengals aim to keep him in place on a long-term pact, they are prepared to use the franchise tag on him for the second year in a row, however.”
PREPARED not if they wanted to tag him they would’ve done it already instead of waiting
Really none of this really matters there’s absolutely no way he’s coming to the pats trade of free agency and as a pats fan I completely ok with it he’s overrated and overvalued
Why tag him if you can work out an extension? Be a waste of a tag. You have until March 5th or so to apply a tag. Until then only the Bengals can exclusively talk to Higgins about a contract.
A lot of teams wait until last minute to apply a tag cause the preferred option is hammer out a deal and if you can’t apply the tag.
First of all it’s lame to like your own post. Second of all there is no official word that he’s been tagged. Just admit you couldn’t understand how the patriots were embarrassed by FA WR last year. You seem clueless. Just move along
First. Why are you worried about likes? Does it upset you or something when others get their comments liked but you don’t?
Second. You couldn’t make it to the second sentence of the article either huh?
“ As the Bengals aim to keep him in place on a long-term pact, they are prepared to use the franchise tag on him for the second year in a row, however.”
Third. wtf does what happened last year in free agency have to do with an article about bengals planning to franchise Higgins a third year in a row which prevents him from being a free agent and will dissuade teams from pursuing him due to the cost of acquiring and giving him a new contract? Nothing.
Just admit it. You had no clue how a franchise tag works. Sit this one out man. You’re getting worked and cooked.
No it’s not, players hate it, and why would a team trade quality assets for someone on a franchise tag who is going to be a UFA anyway after another year?
Higgins should go to commanders
I don’t see why the Patriots should bow out. Even if Higgins is tagged, why not trade for him, if the price is acceptable? Obviously a first seems unpalatable, but what about a second? Would that be worth it for a young quarterback in a draft class with a lot of questions? The Patriots need offensive linemen desperately, and unfortunately for them, Godchaux is a shadow of the player that originally arrived in free agency years ago and won’t fetch much.
I don’t know who in this draft is available in the lower rounds that could give them comparable value to Higgins, even at the price of a second rounder. The Pats have tons of cap room for a deal and a second year QB, so a front loaded deal is definitely in play to keep Higgins happy. Higgins is a little older than it would first appear at 26, but is still in his prime, and is a great number two and borderline number one that should help Maye on the outside. It doesn’t seem like they should absolutely rule out a trade just because Higgins is being tagged.