Jason LaCanfora: Pats really want Higgins "He's going to New England"

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Relax we’re still getting Higgins.

Jayden Higgins at pick 38.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Rough life, huh? Being unhappy about getting paid 23.4m bucks. Sign me up for that level of disrespect.

You can't just take the raw numbers without context. Relative to his skills and qualifications in his field, he's worthy of a more lucrative long term deal and he shouldn't be vilified or mocked for wanting to have the chance for that. Yes, $23.4M is certainly "failing upwards" but we all deserve to receive fair value for what we bring to the table.

 

[Pape]

Bengals in 2026.

tag x 3 is a 144% raise... or roughly 38 million dollars for the year...

 

[TheRainMaker]

My guess is that they are hoping to move him pretty quickly to recoup their cap dollars. They'll probably take a 3rd.

A smart team is just going to sit and wait.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

My guess is that they are hoping to move him pretty quickly to recoup their cap dollars. They'll probably take a 3rd.

The Bengals keep saying what they want to do, people dismiss it, and then they do exactly that. They keep saying they want to keep Burrow/Chase/Higgins/Hendrickson and I just don't understand why people keep doubting that. The only other big contract they have on the books is Orlando Brown Jr. for this year before they can move on next year if they need to. They can absolutely, 100% afford to keep all 4 if that's what they want to spend on. As they keep saying is the case and they keep making moves that match their stated intentions at every turn.

 

[Love The Drake]

The Bengals keep saying what they want to do, people dismiss it, and then they do exactly that. They keep saying they want to keep Burrow/Chase/Higgins/Hendrickson and I just don't understand why people keep doubting that. The only other big contract they have on the books is Orlando Brown Jr. for this year before they can move on next year if they need to. They can absolutely, 100% afford to keep all 4 if that's what they want to spend on. As they keep saying is the case and they keep making moves that match their stated intentions at every turn.

They will not pay Chase and Higgins the same or 2 mill within one another, I don’t see it.

This is a tag and trade to get a draft pick.

 

[Ross12]

The Bengals keep saying what they want to do, people dismiss it, and then they do exactly that. They keep saying they want to keep Burrow/Chase/Higgins/Hendrickson and I just don't understand why people keep doubting that. The only other big contract they have on the books is Orlando Brown Jr. for this year before they can move on next year if they need to. They can absolutely, 100% afford to keep all 4 if that's what they want to spend on. As they keep saying is the case and they keep making moves that match their stated intentions at every turn.

I doubt it because it's stupid. Maybe they'll prove me wrong and do the stupid thing.

 

[Love The Drake]

He doesn't appear thrilled but nothing inflammatory

Give it time.

 

[Ross12]

A smart team is just going to sit and wait.

I am pretty sure the Pats will not even really entertain trade talks for Higgins, they'll move on to other targets, and probably encourage other teams to do the same. If every team takes that approach then eventually the Bengals will be stuck and will have to rescind the tag, making Higgins available for no trade comp. Or at the minimum, don't engage until after the draft, when the best you can offer is a 2026 pick.

 

[TheRainMaker]

The Bengals keep saying what they want to do, people dismiss it, and then they do exactly that. They keep saying they want to keep Burrow/Chase/Higgins/Hendrickson and I just don't understand why people keep doubting that. The only other big contract they have on the books is Orlando Brown Jr. for this year before they can move on next year if they need to. They can absolutely, 100% afford to keep all 4 if that's what they want to spend on. As they keep saying is the case and they keep making moves that match their stated intentions at every turn.

I'll believe it when I see it. I can't imagine the Bengals paying two WR's $30M-$40M. Their defense is horrendous and they don't have running game.

Buffalo, Detroit, Houston are 3 teams that should be calling for Hendrickson.

 

[signbabybrady]

The Bengals keep saying what they want to do, people dismiss it, and then they do exactly that. They keep saying they want to keep Burrow/Chase/Higgins/Hendrickson and I just don't understand why people keep doubting that. The only other big contract they have on the books is Orlando Brown Jr. for this year before they can move on next year if they need to. They can absolutely, 100% afford to keep all 4 if that's what they want to spend on. As they keep saying is the case and they keep making moves that match their stated intentions at every turn.

I'll take Brown if that helps them

 

[Steve102]

Not saying he's worth #38, but this post seems a little outdated. Moss got traded for a 4th because he was 30, 3 years straight without a pro bowl, quit on his team and was seen as a malcontent, had a statistically poor year the season before, had a huge contract that teams were going to have to rework to fit him in. In absolutely no way shape or form should the Randy Moss trade serve as the basis for any comparison of a young, productive receiver in their prime because Randy Moss wasn't traded as one.

That same exact offseason that Randy Moss was traded for a 4th, Wes Welker was acquired for a 2nd rounder coming off of a 67 catch, 687 yards, 1 TD season and only having a 29 catch season before that. If you insist on clinging to old valuations, why not use this one?

I'd really like to say it doesn't fit my narrative, but that'd be just pushing buttons.

But if anyone suggested trading a 2nd for someone with that production (even adjusted up for more league wide passing) people here would have a conniption.

There's a huge difference here. Welker was coming off his 3rd year. Upon the trade, he signed a 5 year deal worth 18.1m, with a 9m signing bonus. In comparison, the franchise tag for WRs was 19.7m in 2007. So... if you want to make the same deal, yeah, I'll trade a high second to the Bengals to pay Higgins a total value over 5 years that equal to the cap hit this year. So that'd be 23m and change, hell, let's make it an even 24m, plus a 12m signing bonus. That'd be an annual salary of 4.8m. Yup, sign me up.

That's what made the Welker signing so good, he was still way under market and he signed a 5 year deal. Higgins, in this case anyway, is going to get a top of market deal and guys like @PatsFan2 and proposing giving up #38. It's too rich to take on that contract hit AND pay that much. Even if you discount the Deebo trade, a 4th or a low 3rd is the trade number. I'd do it for the Judon 3rd rounder, but that's it.

 

[Boomer B]

We're really strapped against the cap like the Bengals.

Without the pick, I’m ok with spending $30m for him. But to give a high pick on top of it? That’s not good business

 

[Steve102]

tag x 3 is a 144% raise... or roughly 38 million dollars for the year...

Bengals tho.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I doubt it because it's stupid. Maybe they'll prove me wrong and do the stupid thing.

They’re known as the Bungles for a reason….

 

[XLIX]

For these players, it's not enough for some reason.

The "reason" is because he is going to make $26 million if he stays on the tag but would make 9 figures if he was a UFA.

All the people in here saying "I'd just be happy making $26 million" and blaming the player are full of it. Not a single person in here would be happy being forced to stay with the team paying $26 million when you could get 4+ times that amount elsewhere.

 

[Steve102]

You can't just take the raw numbers without context. Relative to his skills and qualifications in his field, he's worthy of a more lucrative long term deal and he shouldn't be vilified or mocked for wanting to have the chance for that. Yes, $23.4M is certainly "failing upwards" but we all deserve to receive fair value for what we bring to the table.

I agree, this is his opportunity to make bank, but I don't have sympathy for a 23.m pay day for one year. He gets fair value for one year.

 

[Pape]

I agree, this is his opportunity to make bank, but I don't have sympathy for a 23.m pay day for one year. He gets fair value for one year.

if you think about it hes now on the second year of a 47 million dollar fully guaranteed deal...

 

[Steve102]

if you think about it hes now on the second year of a 47 million dollar fully guaranteed deal...

23.5 mil x 2. Sure.

I get that people are looking at it that he'd be getting in excess of 120m on open market. It's just tough for me to go all "poor baby" when he's still getting paid a chit ton. I don't follow it closely enough to know... did they try to sign him before this? Has he turned down a team friendly deal in the hopes of hitting FA? Does the team friendly deal still pay him more than the 47m?

 

[Pape]

23.5 mil x 2. Sure.

I get that people are looking at it that he'd be getting in excess of 120m on open market. It's just tough for me to go all "poor baby" when he's still getting paid a chit ton. I don't follow it closely enough to know... did they try to sign him before this? Has he turned down a team friendly deal in the hopes of hitting FA? Does the team friendly deal still pay him more than the 47m?

Good questions. I don't know. Haven't cared enough to investigate.

the bengals aren't going to let him walk this year... for some strange reason they think they have a "window". not smart enough to figure out that window slammed shut after losing to the rams in 56.