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Patriots expected to break the bank for projected $125 million wide receiver

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New England Patriots trade target, Cincinnati Bengals' Tee Higgins runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

No one is happy with a 4-13 season, like the New England Patriots had in 2024. But when that dismal mark lands you the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft, and you’ve built up over $100 million in salary cap space, the general thought is you’re planning on making a major turn-around the following year.



It’s certainly possible, if not likely, the Patriots spearhead that turn-around effort by going hard after the NFL’s top wide receiver available — Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox sees the obvious combination of means and motive for New England to land one of the game’s best playmakers.

“If Higgins hits the market, the New England Patriots should be at the front of the line with an open checkbook,” Knox writes. “Drake Maye flashed franchise-quarterback potential as a rookie but was saddled with arguably the league’s worst receiving corps. New head coach Mike Vrabel should hope to change things quickly, and adding Higgins would be a tremendous first step.

“Equipped with a league-high $125 million in projected cap space, New England can win any potential bidding war for Higgins’ services.”

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The biggest issue regarding Higgins is whether or not Cincinnati will let him go. It’s been widely reported there’s mutual interest about giving the young superstar an extension, which is something batterymate Ja’Marr Chase is expected to get, and quarterback Joe Burrow already has. Higgins even parted ways with his agent, generating speculation the idea is he wants to stay in Cincinnati, even if it means taking a contract less than his considerable value suggests he should.

The Bengals tagged Higgins at $21.8 million in 2024, and a second tag would cost upwards of $28 million, all to be accounted on this year’s cap. Considering Burrow cap number climbs over $40 million this season (prior to any restructure), and they will need to work Chase’s new deal into it, tagging doesn’t seem like an option.

And if it’s not, the lack of an extension in Cincinnati would make New England the primary (maybe only) favorite for Higgins’ services.

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