One NFL GM expects Tee Higgins to sign with Patriots

All RSS feed content is owned by the respective 3rd party website.

Patriots

“Patriots owner Robert Kraft ‘took a lot of [expletive] for not spending any money, rightfully so, and I hear they really want this guy.’”

With the Patriots flush with cap space and in desperate need of playmakers, one NFL general manager believes that a rebuilding New England team will open up its wallet to bring in free-agent wideout Tee Higgins. 

Veteran NFL reporter Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post doled out a “six big predictions for the NFL offseason” piece this week, with La Canfora gauging discourse from several NFL GMs and executives across the league before the offseason picks up. 

And with New England leading all NFL teams with $119 million in cap space this spring, the writing seems to be on the wall that a desperate Patriots team will throw a hefty offer at Higgins after a productive season with the Bengals.

“[Joe] Burrow has front-office officials around the league chattering about the lengths he is going to make the case for the Bengals keeping free agent wide receiver Tee Higgins and free agent tight end Mike Gesicki while also extending the deals of wideout Ja’Marr Chase and pass rusher Trey Hendrickson,” La Confora wrote. “‘We have the cap space to get it done,’ Burrow practically pleaded during his pre-Super Bowl media blitz. That, of course, doesn’t mean Bengals owner Mike Brown will spend big.

“‘Burrow is going to be pissed,’ a second GM predicted. ‘No way they are keeping more than two of those four.’ Multiple executives I spoke with predicted Higgins will land at least $30 million per season. ‘I think he’s going to New England,’ the first GM said. Patriots owner Robert Kraft ‘took a lot of [expletive] for not spending any money, rightfully so, and I hear they really want this guy.’”

Even though Drake Maye impressed as a rookie in 2024, New England’s offensive ceiling is significantly limited if the team can’t give their second-year QB a proven pass-catcher moving forward. 

DeMario Douglas finished with the most receiving yards among Patriots receivers in 2024 with 621 — while Kayshon Boutte’s 117 receiving yards against the Bills in Week 18 was the first time a Patriots WR recorded 100-plus yards in a game since Kendrick Bourne in Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season. 

The last time a Patriots wideout posted 1,000 yards in a single season was Julian Edelman in 2019.

Even though Higgins has served as WR2 behind Ja’Marr Chase on the depth chart, the 26-year-old wideout has been a productive weapon for the Bengals over the years, posting five 900-yard seasons over his five seasons in the NFL. Higgins appeared in 12 games in 2024, reeling in 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Conor Ryan

Sports Writer

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.