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

[Joey007]

Part of me almost just wants to scrap everyone in the receiver room not named Demario Douglas (maybe Boutte/Baker?) and start the room over.

I guess that just means I want to move off Bourne and Polk lol.

 

[Rob0729]

Higgins needs to nothing at all, other than wait until camp to sign his tag. In any case, if CIN wants reasonable value for him, then they need his cooperation. Even after his signing the tag, they could trade him somewhere he doesn't want to be. He would simply not sign a new deal with that team. Under those circumstances, CIN wouldn't get much in trade and would be without the cap money until July.

Unless Higgins and his agent are allowed to look for a deal, there is no incentive for Higgins to sign. IMO, the tag already puts him out of the first two-week rush to sign players.

No team is going to trade for Higgins unless he agrees to a long term deal unless the Bengals are willing to trade him for a low round pick. In that case, they are better off just letting him walk and getting the third round comp pick.

 

[lancerman]

I think he’s a fantastic player, and if healthy is easily a 1000 yard guy anywhere.

I wouldn’t hate seeing him on this team but is putting that much money towards a WR the best way to continue rebuilding?

It’s not fun or sexy but both sides of the lines need to be addressed. I’d throw some money at WRs to at least help the maturation of your young QB

We have so many holes that we aren't going to fill everything in one off season. We shouldn't marry ourselves to the idea that "we are focusing on this" because that doesn't work. I'm not a fan because I think to get Higgins we have to overextend to get him. But if a WR1 was in free agency and it was just a bidding war, the Pats should be the team willing to win that right now.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

With Tee Higgins possibly off the market certain guys prices just went up ie... S Diggs and A Cooper. I'm kinda cold on both. I would like us to go after D Slaton or Dyami Brown...the latter had a great playoffs for the Commanders very young too. We can Beef up the OL now getting a LT and RT in FA.

I think either of them (Slayton, Brown) could be a good signing where the next 3-4 years of their career are better than the last. They arne't X receivers though. They're Z receivers who can line up in the slot too, much like Bourne. I think if you could rebuild the WR room positionally, I'd try to keep Douglas as the #3 who plays only from the slot. Boutte as the #4 who plays primarily outside (backup X and Z). Then ideally they replace Bourne as the starting Z receiver that can also play the slot with an upgrade and get a new X receiver. That way you have some options in 3 receiver sets if you want to go smaller with Douglas in the slot or Boutte outside.

Like I said, Slayton or Brown could fit well in that Z receiver role as upgrades to Bourne based on what their next few years will look like vs. his. But they don't solve the X and it's probably a reach to say either truly solidify even the Z receiver spot, so I wouldn't go too hard at them. I'm fine with Bourne there for one more year. It's really an X they gotta do something at this year, even if it's not a perfect or long term solution.

 

[PatsFan2]

Drafting WR's was Bill's Kryptonite.

BB had a weird way of evaluating them. The same Draft he missed he could have had hits at the position. Taking Tyquan Thornton over George Pickens did it for me: and I don't care how much of an @ss-Hole Pickens is: at least he can play Football in this League.

 

[lancerman]

BB had a weird way of evaluating them. The same Draft he missed he could have had hits at the position. Taking Tyquan Thornton over George Pickens did it for me: and I don't care how much of an @ss-Hole Pickens is: at least he can play Football in this League.

I think the big thing now is that the rules have really started to pay dividends for just straight up talent at WR. It used to be hardworkers who ran great routes and could adjust could get you there even if they had the raw speed. But when you nerf how much you can be physical at the line and nerf how much the DB's can touch you, it's going to be just pure physical talent winning.

I think BB thought he could find another Edelman or Branch or Brown type that wasn't flashy but could be put in good positions to have an impact.

Then I think swinging for Harry shell shocked him a bit and the franchise in general and now WR is this weird ancient treasure where we really want it but our worried we are going to go out on a limb and wind up with another cursed artifact.

 

[Thunderhead]

Slightly off-topic: I think the Pats are absolutely doomed when it comes to acquiring WR talent as long as Eliot Wolf and Matt "You want to get faster, you'd better get fast guys" Groh are in the mix.

The likelihood of any team letting a top tier WR walk is so small with the cap increasing steadily each year and growing importance of the position. Even a borderline #1 (who many consider a #2) is tagged back to back (Higgins). And don't even get me started on the draft and the number of brutal whiffs in recent years. The Pats have a well established track record of being arguably the worst team in the entire NFL when it comes to drafting receivers.

Poor Drake.

 

[Joey007]

No team is going to trade for Higgins unless he agrees to a long term deal unless the Bengals are willing to trade him for a low round pick. In that case, they are better off just letting him walk and getting the third round comp pick.

They may just rescind the tag in that scenario. Like Carolina with Josh Norman.

Pretty sure this is why the Chiefs agreed to the Titans trade for a 3 last year. They knew the 3 would be a high 3, so it was better value.

If Higgins agrees to sign here, I honestly would be willing to give a 3. That's a win for both sides. Bengals get a better compensation, and we land our #1 WR under our own terms.

 

[PatsFan2]

I think either of them (Slayton, Brown) could be a good signing where the next 3-4 years of their career are better than the last. They arne't X receivers though. They're Z receivers who can line up in the slot too, much like Bourne. I think if you could rebuild the WR room positionally, I'd try to keep Douglas as the #3 who plays only from the slot. Boutte as the #4 who plays primarily outside (backup X and Z). Then ideally they replace Bourne as the starting Z receiver that can also play the slot with an upgrade and get a new X receiver. That way you have some options in 3 receiver sets if you want to go smaller with Douglas in the slot or Boutte outside.

Like I said, Slayton or Brown could fit well in that Z receiver role as upgrades to Bourne based on what their next few years will look like vs. his. But they don't solve the X and it's probably a reach to say either truly solidify even the Z receiver spot, so I wouldn't go too hard at them. I'm fine with Bourne there for one more year. It's really an X they gotta do something at this year, even if it's not a perfect or long term solution.

Some of of you are just too tied up on K Bourne: he sucks and is not the same player who put up 800yds many moons ago now. Time to move on people Bourne can't separate for $h!t.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Vrabel is very familiar with that Tennessee WR below NWI he could be a play with Deebo.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Career Stats - NFL - ESPN

Complete career NFL stats for Indianapolis Colts Wide Receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on ESPN. Includes scoring, rushing, defensive and receiving stats.

www.espn.com

Yup, I expect Vrabel will go after many former Titans because he’s familiar with them and to help establish his culture. He’s a perfect fit. Good find. He obviously doesn’t solve the #1 X receiver problem, but he does help solve the lack of depth beyond Boutte and Douglas problem.

 

[PatsFan2]

I proposed this one a month ago. Not a solution, but would be a very nice addition to the receiver group.

Instant Upgrade for Bourne!!

 

[dliverey44]

I proposed this one a month ago. Not a solution, but would be a very nice addition to the receiver group.

I like this and also bring in Elijah Moore and a late round guy and let all of them compete with the current room. Maybe a Kupp or Deebo trade for a 4th. We do not need a "WR1" we need reliability and we can get that without landing one of the "big fish"

 

[PatsFan2]

I think either of them (Slayton, Brown) could be a good signing where the next 3-4 years of their career are better than the last. They arne't X receivers though. They're Z receivers who can line up in the slot too, much like Bourne. I think if you could rebuild the WR room positionally, I'd try to keep Douglas as the #3 who plays only from the slot. Boutte as the #4 who plays primarily outside (backup X and Z). Then ideally they replace Bourne as the starting Z receiver that can also play the slot with an upgrade and get a new X receiver. That way you have some options in 3 receiver sets if you want to go smaller with Douglas in the slot or Boutte outside.

Like I said, Slayton or Brown could fit well in that Z receiver role as upgrades to Bourne based on what their next few years will look like vs. his. But they don't solve the X and it's probably a reach to say either truly solidify even the Z receiver spot, so I wouldn't go too hard at them. I'm fine with Bourne there for one more year. It's really an X they gotta do something at this year, even if it's not a perfect or long term solution.

We could try to find some X WR's in the Draft I think Ricky White Las Vegas and Arian Smith Georgia fits that bill. We can get the Former on Day 2 and the Latter on Day 3.

 

[mgteich]

Part of me almost just wants to scrap everyone in the receiver room not named Demario Douglas (maybe Boutte/Baker?) and start the room over.

I guess that just means I want to move off Bourne and Polk lol.

The team shouldn't move on from Polk. For now, he should be expected to be our #6 WR. The coaches should have an opportunity to see what they can get out of him. Even a 5th WR is a roster spot that could be valuable.

The coaches should be able to a lot with the four kids (5 if we include Jackson) and the two new acquisitions. (along with Henry, Gibson and our #2 TE)

 

[maust]

Speaking of achilles he had a brother Bothadees and he was held by the groin and dipped in the river sticks to be invincible in battle. Like achilles though he was vulnerable in a spot, so while everyone has heard of achilles heel noone has heard of Bothadees nuts

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Some of of you are just too tied up on K Bourne: he sucks and is not the same player who put up 800yds many moons ago now. Time to move on people Bourne can't separate for $h!t.

We'll see. There's a pretty long track record of guys struggling mightily in year 1 back from the type of injury he had before rounding into form in year 2. He's going to be 30, so definitely on the older side, but he's not ready for the retirement home either. He had a good season in 2021, 2022 was a lost year in Patricia's doghouse but didn't seem like anything physical, and then 2023 he looked like the same player as in 2021. Like I said, last year he sucked but history tells me he should be closer to 2021 and 2023 if he takes on a normal recovery timeline.

I don't want to get lost in semantics. He's not good enough to be a starting Z. If he is, that's a need area. But I don't think we're going to "solve" all of our need areas. Some will be filled with short term veteran stop gaps and on his current deal Bourne is essentially that on what equates to a 1 year, $5.5M deal. All vet stop gaps have warts, hence them being vet stop gaps. If they didn't have warts, they wouldn't be signing for stop gap type deals. Bourne's warts are that you're banking on him having the bounceback from injury in second year coming back, which might be common but isn't guaranteed.

Once again, I don't see any conceivable way they fix everything this offseason. I can't reiterate that enough. If the value isn't there for signing a Z receiver then I'm not going to be overly concerned with Bourne back in that role for 1 more year. it's absolutely something they need ot be looking to address though. It's just that if the draft board and free agents available point to "solving" other spots instead, then so be it. At least IMO.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

If you took a win/loss record for all well known inside scoop reporters, I have no doubt La Confora is at the bottom by a big margin. He’s basically one of those Twitter shock reporters except for some reason he actually has credentials and unearned credibility as a legitimate voice.

 

[PatsFan2]

We'll see. There's a pretty long track record of guys struggling mightily in year 1 back from the type of injury he had before rounding into form in year 2. He's going to be 30, so definitely on the older side, but he's not ready for the retirement home either. He had a good season in 2021, 2022 was a lost year in Patricia's doghouse but didn't seem like anything physical, and then 2023 he looked like the same player as in 2021. Like I said, last year he sucked but history tells me he should be closer to 2021 and 2023 if he takes on a normal recovery timeline.

I don't want to get lost in semantics. He's not good enough to be a starting Z. If he is, that's a need area. But I don't think we're going to "solve" all of our need areas. Some will be filled with short term veteran stop gaps and on his current deal Bourne is essentially that on what equates to a 1 year, $5.5M deal. All vet stop gaps have warts, hence them being vet stop gaps. If they didn't have warts, they wouldn't be signing for stop gap type deals. Bourne's warts are that you're banking on him having the bounceback from injury in second year coming back, which might be common but isn't guaranteed.

Once again, I don't see any conceivable way they fix everything this offseason. I can't reiterate that enough. If the value isn't there for signing a Z receiver then I'm not going to be overly concerned with Bourne back in that role for 1 more year. it's absolutely something they need ot be looking to address though. It's just that if the draft board and free agents available point to "solving" other spots instead, then so be it. At least IMO.

Take this to the bank don't say I never gave you anything...Jaylin Noel is a Cooper Kupp clone very fast from the Slot I think he's going be our pick in the Second...thank me later I'm sold.

 

[Toofy]

Game theory . Higgins can say he will not sign the tag and will not play on tag. Despite that the Bengals do it, now Higgins does not sign till June, Bengals are cash and cap starved to sign new agents whilst not sure if Higgins will sign and play .Most likely out one, Bengals cave in and remove the tag.

Just ignore the noise . No need to trade assets for Higgins. He will not get tagged or his tag will get removed.

 

[Love The Drake]

Game theory . Higgins can say he will not sign the tag and will not play on tag. Despite that the Bengals do it, now Higgins does not sign till June, Bengals are cash and cap starved to sign new agents whilst not sure if Higgins will sign and play .Most likely out one, Bengals cave in and remove the tag.

Just ignore the noise . No need to trade assets for Higgins. He will not get tagged or his tag will get removed.

I don’t know.