I don’t agree with the premise that Tee Higgins isn’t a WR1. Just because he’s spent the majority of his career with Ja’Marr Chase doesn’t mean Higgins couldn’t be WR1 on many other teams. I count at least 13 teams right now, including the Pats of course, where if he stepped in to their WR room he’d be their alpha WR immediately. He was Clemson’s most productive receiver his sophomore and junior years. He’s had the third most productive career so far in a loaded 2020 WR class that includes Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Brandon Aiyuk, Michael Pittman Jr., and Jerry Jeudy. He’s shown an ability to take over games,
like he did in Week 17 this season against a stout Broncos defense with the Bengals fighting for their playoff lives. Higgins is a difference-maker at WR and elite at the catch point. Chase commands a ton of targets, and Tyler Boyd was no slouch either on that team, so hard to fault Higgins for not having WR1 volume stats. He is absolutely capable.
The biggest knock on Higgins is his health, considering he’s missed 5 games each of the past two seasons. His total numbers would’ve looked even better with a full slate of games played. I’d say conservatively he’s one of the 20 best wide receivers in the league right now, and still young at age 26, one of the most promising wide outs to ever hit free agency. Guys like him are usually locked up through their age 30 season. I think that’d still be the case if the Bengals hadn’t already invested a boatload of cash in Joe Burrow and needing to still do so with their franchise WR Ja’Marr Chase.
The Pats would likely have to make Higgins the highest paid WR, on a per season basis, to lure him in, and that doesn’t sound enticing value-wise for someone who is unlikely to perform up to that status. But that is the cost of doing business and doing what you have to do to protect your main investment, the quarterback, when your team has been unsuccessful in finding a WR1 through the Draft. If you don’t want to pay market value at WR then draft and develop better at the position.
Getting Higgins would have a domino effect of opening things up for the rest of the offense. He’s physical enough to handle the defensive attention and still catch the football. Him just being on the field helps guys like Boutte and Douglas, and potentially even Polk. It is rare for a WR as productive as he is and as young as he is to be available to sign. The Pats have to take that chance if he’s willing to come here.
Chris Godwin is the next best WR available, not as young but still young about to go to his age 29 season. I have a feeling the Bucs will re-sign him though, and that leaves the rest of the pool being aging WR’s on the decline or guys who profile more as ancillary pieces rather than featured ones. Maye needs a go-to receiver and the answer isn’t on the roster currently. Maybe they trade down in the 1st round for extra picks and take a WR there, but I think I’d rather just get one of the top defensive prospects at #4. Need to find guys who will make up the core of this team for years to come.
