We gotta go get him (Tee Higgins)

[dliverey44]

I would move lorde @ss and that contract for a Fourth Rounder. We overpaid for that fat bum.

Can you imagine though if we did not sign him how bad this board would have been

 

[Huckleberry1]

CeeDee Lamb had 74 receptions his rookie season. Higgins had 75. CeeDee Lamb is a #2 WR by your standard.

And you are comparing Higgins to three of the best WRs in the league. Kinda an unfair comparison to judge whether Higgins is a #1 WR because he doesn't match up to the elite WRs in the league.

Drake London is the #4 WR this year in terms of yards and 9th in terms of TDs. He had 69 and 72 receptions his first two years.

And don't forget that Burrow only played 10 games in 2020 because he got injured and went on IR. Higgins had a bunch of scrubs throwing to him for a third of the year his first only year as the #1. I mean Brandon Allen and Ryan Finley are not exactly QBs to put up big numbers.

I’m comparing him to the best receivers because people here are talking about paying him like one of them. He’s a good player, he’s not elite. And I wouldn’t give Drake London 30 Million + either. I’m fine with Paying superstars top money, but I’m not fine with paying good players superstar money.

 

[Wozzy]

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.

The entire skill position groups of my high school were faster than Tee Higgins. He barely topped 1000 yards twice when he stayed healthy. That’s a very good WR, it’s not a #1.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

Over-paying is bad business. not only in terms of not getting the production you hope, but it sends a bad message to the rest of the team. Sorry, this one gets more because, well, we suck at drafting. This team right now needs to rebuild culture and handing out bad contracts is not the way to do it. To me, the only exception where over-paying makes sense is when you are one or two pieces away from a super bowl. We're talking about the difference between something like 7-10 or 10-7 in the best case.

 

[Lansdowne]

The entire skill position groups of my high school were faster than Tee Higgins. He barely topped 1000 yards twice when he stayed healthy. That’s a very good WR, it’s not a #1.

Speed isn’t everything. Jerry Rice ran a slower 40 than Tee Higgins. Davante Adams and DeAndre Hopkins were slow runners throughout their career as well. Speed isn’t how Higgins wins, he wins using his 6’4” 220 lb. frame, and he wins
more often than not.

Regarding the 1000 yards, thank you for pointing this out because it’s actually more impressive when you consider who he had to compete with for targets.

In 2021, Chase had 81-1455-13 on 128 targets and Boyd had 67-828-5 on 94 targets. Higgins had 74-1091-6 on 110 targets.

In 2022, Chase had 87-1046-9 on 134 targets and Boyd had 58-762-5 on 82 targets. Higgins had 74-1029-7 on 109 targets.

Higgins was better than I thought, as he was the most efficient of the three receivers in those two seasons, having a higher success rate than Chase both times and higher than Boyd in 2021. Not exactly the 2004 Colts but that’s still impressive all considered.

Every now and then, NFL teams are blessed to have two WR1 types on it. The Vikings did with Cris Carter and Randy Moss, the 49ers did with Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens, the Rams did with Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, the Colts did with Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, the Eagles have that now with A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, the Bengals have had that with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Just because he isn’t his current team’s WR1 doesn’t mean he isn’t WR1 material. Nobody except perhaps his LSU teammate Justin Jefferson is taking that title from Chase.

Edit to add: For his career, Higgins has a 17-game average of 80-1116-8 on 124 targets. That’s despite being the #2 in targets in all five seasons he’s played so far. If you want to say he’s a WR2 then he’s a damn excellent one and better than a lot of current team WR1’s around the league. And he would still be by far the best WR this team has had in years. I’d be more concerned about his ability to avoid soft tissue injuries than I would his ability to produce as our top receiver.

 

[Wozzy]

Speed isn’t everything. Jerry Rice ran a slower 40 than Tee Higgins. Davante Adams and DeAndre Hopkins were slow runners throughout their career as well. Speed isn’t how Higgins wins, he wins using his 6’4” 220 lb. frame, and he wins
more often than not.

Jerry Rice ran 4.4 forty in private team workouts. He also led the NFL in receiving yards six times and eclipsed 1200 yards twelve times… Higgins not once.

Regarding the 1000 yards, thank you for pointing this out because it’s actually more impressive when you consider who he had to compete with for targets.

Targets isn’t an excuse, Higgins has received max targets despite Chase being next door. He has over 100 targets in every season but one where he got hurt.

In 2021, Chase had 81-1455-13 on 128 targets and Boyd had 67-828-5 on 94 targets. Higgins had 74-1091-6 on 110 targets.

That ^ highlights the importance of speed and explosion.

Higgins was better than I thought, as he was the most efficient of the three receivers in those two seasons, having a higher success rate than Chase both times and higher than Boyd in 2021. Not exactly the 2004 Colts but that’s still impressive all considered.

Yeah, like I said… good possession receiver. He’s a nice big target. He’s not a #1 or somebody opposing coordinators create game plans around. He’s not scaring anyone.

Every now and then, NFL teams are blessed to have two WR1 types on it. The Vikings did with Cris Carter and Randy Moss, the 49ers did with Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens, the Rams did with Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, the Colts did with Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, the Eagles have that now with A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, the Bengals have had that with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Just because he isn’t his current team’s WR1 doesn’t mean he isn’t WR1 material. Nobody except perhaps his LSU teammate Justin Jefferson is taking that title from Chase.

Every receiver you mention above as another #1 put up #1 numbers, in many cases like Chris Carter put up #1 numbers before Moss arrived. Higgins has put up solid #2 numbers.

Edit to add: For his career, Higgins has a 17-game average of 80-1116-8 on 124 targets. That’s despite being the #2 in targets in all five seasons he’s played so far. If you want to say he’s a WR2 then he’s a damn excellent one and better than a lot of current team WR1’s around the league. And he would still be by far the best WR this team has had in years. I’d be more concerned about his ability to avoid soft tissue injuries than I would his ability to produce as our top receiver.

Okay, he’s an excellent #2. He wants #1 money.

I’d rather draft WR’s in the hopes of finding a #1. Fifth round picks like Tyreek or Steph Diggs became #1’s. Draft and develop.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

If the Pats don’t land Tee Higgins, they could still land a younger, cheaper version and all it takes is drafting him. Tetairoa McMillan is a Tee Higgins clone.

You sure? Look at his game Logs, about 1/2 of it is against BUM TEAMS, where they will be working for Amazon in a year

 

[dliverey44]

The entire skill position groups of my high school were faster than Tee Higgins. He barely topped 1000 yards twice when he stayed healthy. That’s a very good WR, it’s not a #1.

Its cool that they are faster than Higgins. How many of them are in the NFL? If speed is what is needed, then why did those dumb mother ****ers get rid of Tyquan.

 

[Wozzy]

Its cool that they are faster than Higgins. How many of them are in the NFL? If speed is what is needed, then why did those dumb mother ****ers get rid of Tyquan.

Nobody said “speed is all you need,” and that’s an important distinction. A player has to be smart to be good, not math but football. That being said, once a prospect proves football smart… measurable’s, drive and health set the ceiling.

It’s not coincidence the greatest, most explosive players in history like Barry Sanders, Randy Moss or Deion Sanders share 4.2/4.3 speed in common.

Speed in four directions is more important, but speed kills.

 

[Pacific Coast Patriot]

I like Higgins as a WR, but... this whole clamour for him reminds me of that time when Antonio Brown was a 1 and Smith Schuster was the 2 that flashed 1 potential, if only he was given the role... well, we know how that went.

Not to say Higgins will be the same, but if you add in his injury history and risk of being a WR2.. are we seriously wanting to make Higgins the highest paid WR of all time? I think he's a good receiver but there's no way in hell I'm making a WR2 paid more than Justin Jefferson.

I mean sure, it's not my money and we need WR help - but I think you're tying way too much up in one guy who could very likely end up injured in the playoffs and might only be a WR2 in any case.

I'm pretty sure he'll stay with Burrow regardless, we couldn't even complete deals for Ridley or Jeudy last year.

 

[dliverey44]

Nobody said “speed is all you need,” and that’s an important distinction. A player has to be smart to be good, not math but football. That being said, once a prospect proves football smart… measurable’s, drive and health set the ceiling.

It’s not coincidence the greatest, most explosive players in history like Barry Sanders, Randy Moss or Deion Sanders share 4.2/4.3 speed in common.

Speed in four directions is more important, but speed kills.

Your right speed is not all that you need, but when you clowned Higgins for being slow (your HS guys were faster) it absolutely implied that he wasn't **** because of the speed issue.

 

[Love The Drake]

I like Higgins as a WR, but... this whole clamour for him reminds me of that time when Antonio Brown was a 1 and Smith Schuster was the 2 that flashed 1 potential, if only he was given the role... well, we know how that went.

Not to say Higgins will be the same, but if you add in his injury history and risk of being a WR2.. are we seriously wanting to make Higgins the highest paid WR of all time? I think he's a good receiver but there's no way in hell I'm making a WR2 paid more than Justin Jefferson.

I mean sure, it's not my money and we need WR help - but I think you're tying way too much up in one guy who could very likely end up injured in the playoffs and might only be a WR2 in any case.

I'm pretty sure he'll stay with Burrow regardless, we couldn't even complete deals for Ridley or Jeudy last year.

We didn’t have Maye or Vrabel last year during free agency.
Jeudy I don’t think Mayo was very proactive in building the roster.
That won’t be a issue with Vrabel.

 

[Wozzy]

Your right speed is not all that you need, but when you clowned Higgins for being slow (your HS guys were faster) it absolutely implied that he wasn't **** because of the speed issue.

No, I said he was very good, a great #2. I didn’t “clown” anyone.

With his size if he had 4.2/4.3 speed he’d be Julio Jones or Calvin Johnson…. he doesn’t and isn’t.

I’d pay Jones or Johnson in a heartbeat, Cinci would never let those guys go. That’s the difference between a #1 and a #2.

 

[signbabybrady]

No, I said he was very good, a great #2. I didn’t “clown” anyone.

With his size if he had 4.2/4.3 speed he’d be Julio Jones or Calvin Johnson…. he doesn’t and isn’t.

I’d pay Jones or Johnson in a heartbeat, Cinci would never let those guys go. That’s the difference between a #1 and a #2.

That looks more like the difference between just a #1 and maybe 2 of the greatest WRs of all time.

 

[mike_usagisan]

For me, it's really easy. We're a better team with Tee Higgins than with Slayton or the others. We have the money and as far as I can tell, don't have any rookies who we're going to have to pay serious money to keep for at least 4 years. Sometimes you have to overpay for good things because those are the only things available to buy.

 

[KCSVEN]

For me, it's really easy. We're a better team with Tee Higgins than with Slayton or the others. We have the money and as far as I can tell, don't have any rookies who we're going to have to pay serious money to keep for at least 4 years. Sometimes you have to overpay for good things because those are the only things available to buy.

Exactly.
Pay Higgins or carry huge cap space to 2026. People think there are enough quality free agents coming here that they can spend all this cap space without signing a Higgins is just not accurate.

It's not Higgins or these 3 guys, its Higgins or unused cap space.

 

[Wozzy]

That looks more like the difference between just a #1 and maybe 2 of the greatest WRs of all time.

#1’s are the greatest WR’s off all-time, or at least the greatest of the generation in which they played.

Higgins is not AJ Brown, he’s not Tyreek Hill, he’s not Justin Jefferson. Absolutely no defensive coordinator is changing his defense or rolling coverage to one side of the field to stop Tee Higgins.

If you can’t see the difference I can’t explain it so you can.

 

[signbabybrady]

#1’s are the greatest WR’s off all-time, or at least the greatest of the generation in which they played.

Higgins is not AJ Brown, he’s not Tyreek Hill, he’s not Justin Jefferson. Absolutely no defensive coordinator is changing his defense or rolling coverage to one side of the field to stop Tee Higgins.

If you can’t see the difference I can’t explain it so you can.

We have different definitions of #1s

I would define a number 1 as the 15-32 best WRs on any given year. If you were talking about the greatest WRs of all time just say that.

Every year every team has a number 1 receiver. Admittedly not every teams 1 is worthy of actually being considered a 1 so I say 15-32. And here's the real pertinent point sometimes 2 of these guys wind up on the same team.

 

[Wozzy]

We have different definitions of #1s

I would define a number 1 as the 15-32 best WRs on any given year. If you were talking about the greatest WRs of all time just say that.

Every year every team has a number 1 receiver. Admittedly not every teams 1 is worthy of actually being considered a 1 so I say 15-32. And here's the real pertinent point sometimes 2 of these guys wind up on the same team.

Actually the only thing we disagree about is value. I don’t think a guy who gets a smidge more production in a perfect situation to Kendrick Bourne deserves to get paid like Justin Jefferson.

 

[signbabybrady]

Actually the only thing we disagree about is value. I don’t think a guy who gets a smidge more production in a perfect situation to Kendrick Bourne deserves to get paid like Justin Jefferson.

I actually didn't think our disagreement was going to be quite so large but If you're comparing Higgins to Bourne then we are definitely not close to any agreement on this one.