We gotta go get him (Tee Higgins)

[patsinthesnow]

The pats can get a top 15 WR for no draft capital and fans don’t want him. Who cares about Kraft’s money?

Chase
Jefferson
Lamb
Nacua
Collins
St. Brown
A.J. Brown
Nabers
B. Thomas

Those are the only WRs definitely better than Higgins. Not being a top 10 WR & not being a WR1 are two different things.

 

[Steve102]

I have done a 180 on higgins... at first I didn't want him... but after this year, it is clear we need some one who can pull guys off the line, out of the box... Right now, there are no other options unless you want to make a run at steff diggs (31 years old, rehabbing a torn acl), amari cooper (will be 31 before the new year starts, disappeared in Buffalo), darius slayton (another 50 catch 700 yard guy) or cooper kupp (pending free agent imo, will be 32, is hurt a lot)... there really is no one else that I can think of... Unless we spend 4 on a WR, it isn't happening this year... LT is more important for the long term imp... ymmv on that one though

I would rather have all those guys, save for Diggs, than Higgins at top of market. As far as the pick at #4 goes, I am all for BPA or trading back for assets later. It looks like the R2 and R3 picks are strong this year, as opposed to a weak R1.

as for the money aspect, I just don't care... we have spent the past three or four seasons near the bottom of the league in cash expenditures... over that period of time, what has been the refrain? that the roster lacks talent... combine with the poor drafts, the unwillingness of the team to spend on free agents, this roster is full of guys would would have been bubble players in New England ten years ago... If we want to be competitive something has to change

I understand the reticence of overspending... BB and his fiscal frugality was imprinted on us as a fan base for 20 years... the "we don't have to spend/overspend, we can find a guy" mentality is unrealistic now, and quite frankly has been for awhile... Its time to take that yoke off and look at the realities of the modern day NFL...

It's cap management IMO. You have Drake and Gonzo on rookie deals. If they stay at #4 and take a BPA, odds are that guy is going to go at one of the higher paid positions You'd have 3 of the top positions under rookie contracts. You can either push all your chips in on a Tee Higgins, or load up on guys like a Mike Vrabel type, similar to what they did when Mike was a player. If you elect to go with Tee, then it needs to be a short enough deal that he comes off the books so you can retain the other younger players.

If you want to wait and play the draft game, we won't be competitive for at least another two to three years by my reckoning... It's either that or start using the draft chips for trades in order to rebuild the roster... when a guy like AJ Brown comes available, we need to spend those chips to make the deal happen... and then you will still have to pay them...

I'd spend all day of AJ Brown. Tee Higgins isn't AJ Brown.

 

[pazrul72]

I dont understand the argurment that Higgens isnt a #1 because of Chase. There have been plenty of games Chase didnt play and Higgens numbers go up to the point if you project them out to a full season you are looking at a top 5 WR in the NFL. Now that is projecting and assuming health so would he hit those numbers? Odds are no but there is no denying the talent and ability are there. Just my own preference from the eye test but i love Higgens game and want him badly. 5 years 150 million with some games played incentives, call it 50 million guaranteed all in the first 2 years sounds perfect to me. Now if it goes much higher then that, like 175 million, i'm out unless there are serious escalators where he is performing as a top 5 receiver and face of the league type guy. Pretty sure we all know he's not that.

With Drake and Gonzo on rookie contracts we have a 3 year window to add a 30 million a year player and still fill 5-10 other holes with adequate starter type players. Not pro bowlers, just top 10-25th best player at thier position which would be a significant improvement over what they are currently trotting out. With better coaching who knows where they can end up. Higgens is easily the only player currently expected to hit FA thats even in the conversation to be a 30 mil a year guy so 100% agree with OP gotta go get him.

 

[Rob0729]

Tee Higgins is a 1, not sure what world people live in calling him a #2, yeah he’s not JJ, Chase, Hill
But he’d be number 1 on at least 15 teams thus a number 1.
So now we skip out on a solid number 1 because we can’t get an elite #1? His contract would coincide with Mayes rookie deal. This is a no brainer.

Tee Higgins Looks Like a WR1 | Highlights and Live Video from Bleacher Report

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Yeah, I don't get why people don't think he isn't a #1. He played like a #1 his rookie year before Chase came into the league and had several great games as a #1 when Chase went down for a month in 2023.

The Bengals just had the luxury of having two #1 WRs. A small handful of teams can boast that but that is what happens when you hit on your QB and your two starting WRs in two consecutive drafts all playing on rookie deals (until this year). Burrow and Higgins were drafted in 2020 and Chase was drafted in 2021.

 

[Pape]

I would rather have all those guys, save for Diggs, than Higgins at top of market. As far as the pick at #4 goes, I am all for BPA or trading back for assets later. It looks like the R2 and R3 picks are strong this year, as opposed to a weak R1.

fair enough

It's cap management IMO.

we are 125 million under the cap. we were 100 million under the cap last year. we don't spend money. Cap management means absolutely nothing if your team is so far under the cap they had to overpay guys last year just to get to the minimum salary expenditure...

You have Drake and Gonzo on rookie deals. If they stay at #4 and take a BPA, odds are that guy is going to go at one of the higher paid positions You'd have 3 of the top positions under rookie contracts. You can either push all your chips in on a Tee Higgins, or load up on guys like a Mike Vrabel type, similar to what they did when Mike was a player. If you elect to go with Tee, then it needs to be a short enough deal that he comes off the books so you can retain the other younger players.

The problem with that philosophy is the "guys like Mike Vrabel" are no longer available... They get resigned before they hit the market... BB pioneered that move in the early 2000's... by the mid teens, that pool of talent had dried up... I'm not the only one who thinks this... ask @TheRainMaker ... he's noticed it too

I'd spend all day of AJ Brown. Tee Higgins isn't AJ Brown.

I would too, but he's not an option unless Philly suddenly gets very stupid.


people are getting too bothered by the cap and the possibility of over paying guys... that it will hamper some "mythic" move or series of moves that we will make, or it will restrict the guys we can bring in... guess what? spending 35million on Higgins won't do that... we are so far under the cap that even a deal like that won't even make a dent... for years we used to make fun of teams that did it... well guess what? the league has turned the patriots into the punchline for the last two years...

 

[Rob0729]

One last thing. If the Bengals weren't in a position to draft Chase in 2021, they probably would have gone on with Higgins are their designated #1 WR. They just couldn't pass on Chase because he was an elite prospect and had a history with Burrow. And Burrow had such a great rookie season that the Bengals wanted to give him an embarrassment of weapons to work with although they might have done a better job building a line in front of him (but that wasn't because of a lack of effort).

I don't see the fact that they drafted Chase and made him the #1 WR an indictment on Higgins' ability to be a #1 WR.

 

[PatsFan2]

I would rather have all those guys, save for Diggs, than Higgins at top of market. As far as the pick at #4 goes, I am all for BPA or trading back for assets later. It looks like the R2 and R3 picks are strong this year, as opposed to a weak R1.

It's cap management IMO. You have Drake and Gonzo on rookie deals. If they stay at #4 and take a BPA, odds are that guy is going to go at one of the higher paid positions You'd have 3 of the top positions under rookie contracts. You can either push all your chips in on a Tee Higgins, or load up on guys like a Mike Vrabel type, similar to what they did when Mike was a player. If you elect to go with Tee, then it needs to be a short enough deal that he comes off the books so you can retain the other younger players.

I'd spend all day of AJ Brown. Tee Higgins isn't AJ Brown.

Cheapskate!!

 

[PatsFan2]

Yeah, I don't get why people don't think he isn't a #1. He played like a #1 his rookie year before Chase came into the league and had several great games as a #1 when Chase went down for a month in 2024.

The Bengals just had the luxury of having two #1 WRs. A small handful of teams can boast that but that is what happens when you hit on your QB and your two starting WRs in two consecutive drafts all playing on rookie deals (until this year). Burrow and Higgins were drafted in 2020 and Chase was drafted in 2021.

 

[lancerman]

The pats can get a top 15 WR for no draft capital and fans don’t want him. Who cares about Kraft’s money?

Chase
Jefferson
Lamb
Nacua
Collins
St. Brown
A.J. Brown
Nabers
B. Thomas

Those are the only WRs definitely better than Higgins. Not being a top 10 WR & not being a WR1 are two different things.

Nobody cares about Kraft's money. They care about a bad cap decision. Tee Higgins is a WR2 who benefits from being on an offense with a top 3 WR. You're going to pay him similar money to Chase to be the guy when he's going to look very different when he's the top priority for CB1's.

Higgins is #30 in receptions, #31 in yards. If you want to account for him missing a few games, he ranks #64 in yards per reception. He also has been getting injured as of late.

He's probably the best number 2 in the league, but to get him here we have to likely pay him top 5 money. So okay fine do that, just don't cry when we don't have cap space if a great OT or a real WR1 becomes available.

 

[Steve102]

Cheapskate!!

Dude. Enough. Add something.

 

[PatsFan2]

I would rather have all those guys, save for Diggs, than Higgins at top of market. As far as the pick at #4 goes, I am all for BPA or trading back for assets later. It looks like the R2 and R3 picks are strong this year, as opposed to a weak R1.

It's cap management IMO. You have Drake and Gonzo on rookie deals. If they stay at #4 and take a BPA, odds are that guy is going to go at one of the higher paid positions You'd have 3 of the top positions under rookie contracts. You can either push all your chips in on a Tee Higgins, or load up on guys like a Mike Vrabel type, similar to what they did when Mike was a player. If you elect to go with Tee, then it needs to be a short enough deal that he comes off the books so you can retain the other younger players.

I'd spend all day of AJ Brown. Tee Higgins isn't AJ Brown.

Diggs is going to be 32 coming off a ACL yep money well spent... I think NOT!

 

[PatsFan2]

Dude. Enough. Add something.

Just did.

 

[PatsFan2]

For the record Tee Higgins is a Elite #2 Borderline #1: because he plays along side Ja'Marr Chase. Yess and Higgins is worth $30Mill.

 

[PatsFan2]

Nobody cares about Kraft's money. They care about a bad cap decision. Tee Higgins is a WR2 who benefits from being on an offense with a top 3 WR. You're going to pay him similar money to Chase to be the guy when he's going to look very different when he's the top priority for CB1's.

Higgins is #30 in receptions, #31 in yards. If you want to account for him missing a few games, he ranks #64 in yards per reception. He also has been getting injured as of late.

He's probably the best number 2 in the league, but to get him here we have to likely pay him top 5 money. So okay fine do that, just don't cry when we don't have cap space if a great OT or a real WR1 becomes available.

Hogwash!! Tee Higgins just turned 26 he has that going for him: a 6'4 Very Good Young WR. Did I say he's worth $30Mill?? So glad some of you are not in charge of Kraft's $$$$$$.

 

[bakes781]

Is there a LT worth overpaying for, too? Sign me up for Alaric Jackson and Tee Higgins.

Now we're talking. We aren't 1 player away is all I'm saying

 

[Steve102]

we are 125 million under the cap. we were 100 million under the cap last year. we don't spend money. Cap management means absolutely nothing if your team is so far under the cap they had to overpay guys last year just to get to the minimum salary expenditure...

I am going to say that they didn't spend anything last year because they weren't sure on Mayo. I think there's a new sheriff in town now, and that will change.

The problem with that philosophy is the "guys like Mike Vrabel" are no longer available... They get resigned before they hit the market... BB pioneered that move in the early 2000's... by the mid teens, that pool of talent had dried up... I'm not the only one who thinks this... ask @TheRainMaker ... he's noticed it too

That's fair. I have felt that the FA pool of late is really a large amount of cast offs. Guys beyond their "best by" date, underperformers, malcontents or guys not worth putting up with the **** they bring. Anyone worth keeping stays put. Teams aren't lowballing guys they want to keep.

I would too, but he's not an option unless Philly suddenly gets very stupid.

They won't.

People are getting too bothered by the cap and the possibility of over paying guys... that it will hamper some "mythic" move or series of moves that we will make, or it will restrict the guys we can bring in... guess what? spending 35million on Higgins won't do that... we are so far under the cap that even a deal like that won't even make a dent... for years we used to make fun of teams that did it... well guess what? the league has turned the patriots into the punchline for the last two years...

I'm not sure that 35m for Higgins doesn't make a dent. Again, my issue is that he's not 'him'. I think folks will be plenty disappointed when he gets here and he's not Randy Moss 2.0. Is he better than anything they have? Yep, by a lot. As long as everyone; fans, team, media, ect., set proper expectations, fine. He's not going to play 17 games, and he's not going to be a fantasy football record setter. He's a nice player with good ability.

None of this matters, because if he's smart, he'll stay with Chase and Burrow.

 

[PatsFan2]

Is there a LT worth overpaying for, too? Sign me up for Alaric Jackson and Tee Higgins.

Ronnie Stanley on Three year Deal ain't bad either good vet presence. He would not kill our cap.

 

[PatsFan2]

I am going to say that they didn't spend anything last year because they weren't sure on Mayo. I think there's a new sheriff in town now, and that will change.

That's fair. I have felt that the FA pool of late is really a large amount of cast offs. Guys beyond their "best by" date, underperformers, malcontents or guys not worth putting up with the **** they bring. Anyone worth keeping stays put. Teams aren't lowballing guys they want to keep.

They won't.

I'm not sure that 35m for Higgins doesn't make a dent. Again, my issue is that he's not 'him'. I think folks will be plenty disappointed when he gets here and he's not Randy Moss 2.0. Is he better than anything they have? Yep, by a lot. As long as everyone, fans, team, media, ect., set proper expectations, fine. He's not going to play 17 games, and he's not going to be a fantasy football record setter. He's a nice player with good ability.

None of this matters, because if he's smart, he'll stay with Chase and Burrow.

I would love to see the accurate Drake Maye throwing fades to the 6'4 Tee Higgins.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Nobody cares about Kraft's money. They care about a bad cap decision. Tee Higgins is a WR2 who benefits from being on an offense with a top 3 WR. You're going to pay him similar money to Chase to be the guy when he's going to look very different when he's the top priority for CB1's.

Higgins is #30 in receptions, #31 in yards. If you want to account for him missing a few games, he ranks #64 in yards per reception. He also has been getting injured as of late.

He's probably the best number 2 in the league, but to get him here we have to likely pay him top 5 money. So okay fine do that, just don't cry when we don't have cap space if a great OT or a real WR1 becomes available.

He’s produced more when Chase is out of the lineup:

Tee Higgins Stats Without Jamar Chase | StatMuse

Tee Higgins has had 36 catches for 542 yards and has scored 3 touchdowns in 6 games without Ja'Marr Chase in his career.

www.statmuse.com

The pats have 110+ million in cap space. Signing Tee Higgins won’t preclude them from signing a LT, EDGE, etc.

 

[PatsFan2]

He’s produced more when Chase is out of the lineup:

Tee Higgins Stats Without Jamar Chase | StatMuse

Tee Higgins has had 36 catches for 542 yards and has scored 3 touchdowns in 6 games without Ja'Marr Chase in his career.

www.statmuse.com

The pats have 110+ million in cap space. Signing Tee Higgins won’t preclude them from signing a LT, EDGE, etc.

Some think Today is 20 years ago: they're living in the past. You can't get something for nothing in Today's NFL.