Bills urged to make game-changing trade offer for star wide receiver
The Buffalo Bills are expected to be major contenders in the trade market this offseason as they aim for a Super Bowl victory. They’re seeking to strengthen their wide receiver group, and top-tier players at the position, like Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals, could be available.
Higgins, a potential candidate for the franchise tag, is seen as one of the top wide receivers in the league. ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz recommends that the Bills should make a trade for Higgins and sign him to an extension.
“Initially, I suggested the Bills should just sign a receiver. But now that the Bengals plan to tag Higgins again, Buffalo needs to present an offer so appealing that the Bengals won’t be able to refuse,” Schatz writes. “Higgins was poised to be the top free agent wide receiver this year. He had 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Despite only playing 12 games, he ranked 12th in my DYAR metric. He ranked 24th in 2023, 10th in 2022, and fifth in 2021, even with Ja’Marr Chase sharing targets.”
“Higgins is a No. 1 receiver looking for a No. 1 role, and the Bills need that. They need someone their quarterback, Josh Allen, can rely on—a go-to target on third downs. Khalil Shakir had 821 yards last season, but he’s a slot receiver. The Bills didn’t have an outside receiver surpassing 600 yards. Higgins would be the ideal leader for their receiver group, helping them take the final step toward a Super Bowl.”
While the Bengals might be hesitant to trade Higgins, the Bills need to make an offer they can’t turn down. The Bengals might consider dealing Higgins if they realize they can’t afford to pay both him and Chase, who is due for a major extension next offseason, potentially costing $40 million per year.
If the Bills land Higgins, they’ll secure their top wide receiver, while the Bengals could receive a strong return and make room for a Chase extension without the complications of using the franchise tag.
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