The Cleveland Browns added a wide receiver in Jerry Jeudy with potential to be a true second target alongside Amari Cooper, but the team could still look for more wide receivers this offseason.
Starting QB Deshaun Watson has openly expressed interest in teaming up with Cincinnati Bengals star Tee Higgins, putting publicly voiced this idea on several occasions. Higgins is currently under contract in Cincinnati on a one-year franchise tag deal worth almost $22 million. However, despite the large payday, Higgins has requested a trade, likely seeking a team willing to offer him a multiyear contract with significantly more guaranteed money.
Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report noted the Browns as one of several teams to keep an eye on regarding trade talks for Higgins leading up to NFL draft weekend in late April.
“Higgins asked for a trade last month after the Cincinnati Bengals designated him with the franchise tag,” Gagnon wrote. “Teams in need of a receiver to watch include the Giants, Jets, Bears, Ravens, Browns, Chargers, Patriots and Titans.”
Tee Higgins Has Proven He Can Be WR1 for NFL Squad
GettyWide receiver Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Higgins has an impressive record over four years with the Bengals, reaching 1,000 receiving yards twice and nearing it a third time, totaling 3,684 yards and 24 TDs across 58 career games.
While Higgins is talented enough to be the primary receiver, he’s been second to Ja’Marr Chase — possibly one of the top five pass-catchers in the NFL — for the past three seasons, which makes Higgins’ statistical output even more impressive. When Chase has been injured, Higgins has shown he can perform at the top of the group across the league.
Watson spoke directly to Higgins during the January 26 episode of his “QB Unplugged” podcast, urging the receiver to join him in Cleveland before the Bengals prevented Higgins’ free agency by using the franchise tag.
“You know what’s going on with us, man. I know you are ready to join. We want to throw the ball a lot,” Watson said. “We will take care of you. The Cleveland fans will adore you and we have the Clemson connections. We didn’t get to play together, but this is our chance. Come to The Land.”
Trade for Tee Higgins Presents Browns With Some Difficult Financial Questions
GettyCincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins.
Getting Higgins on the team won’t be as simple as Watson made it sound.
During the upcoming draft, Cleveland’s front office will finally complete the payment for the third of three first-rounders it sent to the Houston Texans to acquire Watson over two years ago. With no first-round pick to offer and the No. 54 pick as their best asset in 2024, the Browns would likely need to use future picks just to start meaningful discussions with the Bengals about acquiring Higgins.
More challenging, though, is the money Cleveland will have to pay Higgins if the team gets him. Spotrac estimates his market value at $18.6 million per year over a new four-year contract ($74.4 million total).
Browns Will Need to Use Salary Cap Tricks, Further Pledge Future to Get Tee Higgins
GettyCleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
Paying Higgins that amount of money will be difficult, especially as the team seems to be getting ready to offer Cooper an extension to reduce his nearly $24 million cap number in 2024 and keep him for the long term. The Browns also lengthened Jeudy on a three-year contract valued at $52.5 million that comes with $41 million in full guarantees.
However, structuring Jeudy’s contract with four built-in void years will allow the Browns to limit his cap hit to $4.7 million in 2024, approximately $8 million in 2025, and just over $9 million in 2026. Cleveland can, and likely will, use the same kind of cap tricks for Cooper’s extension to keep the next couple of his contract years reasonable.
The team may be able to do the same thing with Higgins, thus maximizing the opportunity to win the Super Bowl that it created by forming one of the league’s best defenses. The Watson situation remains relatively unknown, as he only played six games in 2023 due to injury and was mostly average at best when he was on the field.
However, Cleveland has already committed a lot to build the competitive roster it has now, so going after Higgins isn’t actually that big of a risk. The bigger questions are whether the Browns can gather the draft picks to acquire him and, if they can, whether the Bengals will be willing to trade the skilled wide receiver within the AFC North Division?
