The Cincinnati Bengals could potentially swap out wide receiver Tee Higgins during the same draft, all in one move.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggested the potential trade in his annual mock draft, where teams exchange their first-round picks. He proposes the Bengals trading Higgins to the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 27 pick. This trade could result in acquiring a replacement for Higgins or addressing another team need. The Bengals also have the No. 18 pick in the first round.
During this offseason, Higgins requested a trade, and the Bengals placed a $21.81 million franchise tag on him in the meantime. He could potentially command a richer long-term deal, worth around four years and $74.4 million, according to Spotrac’s market value estimates.
“They’ve already paid Joe Burrowhim, and a significant extension for Ja’Marr Chase is likely to follow soon, possibly even this offseason,” Barnwell wrote about the Bengals’ situation with Higgins. “Would they really prefer to allocate funds for an DeVonta Smith-sized extension for Higgins, or would that money be better used elsewhere? If they decide to move on, doing so now and acquiring a first-round pick in a deep class for wide receivers would be more beneficial than waiting a year and receiving a third-round compensatory pick in 2026.”
Tee Higgins Won’t Match 2 Other Top Receivers in Trade Compensation
Last season, Higgins had 42 catches, 656 yards, and five touchdowns in 16 games. He had previously achieved back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022, with a total of 13 touchdowns within those years. However, these accomplishments might not be sufficient to offset his 2023 season in terms of trade compensation.
“Higgins wouldn’t yield the same level of return as [Brandon] Aiyuk or Justin Jefferson for various reasons. He is already under the franchise tag, which means the Bengals star is one tag away from entering unrestricted free agency,” Barnwell stated. “Aiyuk and Jefferson are both under their fifth-year option, giving them another year before hitting the open market. Higgins is coming off a season plagued by injury, and while Jefferson also missed playing time last season, his peak performance has been significantly more productive than Higgins’.”
To support Barnwell’s point, Jefferson and Aiyuk both delivered 1,000-yard seasons in 2023, with over 20 additional receptions each. Jefferson has achieved four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons at the beginning of his career, and Aiyuk has increased his yardage every year in the league.
2 Receivers the Bengals Could Pick in the First Round
Cincinnati may be fortunate enough to have LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. available at No. 18. Thomas ranks as the fourth-rated wide receiver in the draft according to Pro Football Focus.
“Thomas possesses a good combination of size and speed, enabling him to push the ball vertically down the sideline, demanding safeties to focus on his side,” as stated by PFF’s Trevor Sikkema. “To fully utilize this kind of threat, he will need to demonstrate consistent success against press coverage. Offenses that prioritize stretching the field will value what he brings to the table within the top 50.”
If Thomas is not available, the Bengals might choose Texas’ Adonai Mitchell at No. 27. PFF ranks Mitchell as the fifth-best receiver in the entire draft.
“Mitchell’s agility at his size makes him a challenging opponent, especially in the red zone. My biggest concern about him is that I wish he would attack the ball more when it’s in the air. If he improves in this area, he has the potential for fringe WR1/WR2 capabilities,” as stated by Sikkema.
