The Buffalo Bills are actively seeking an experienced wide receiver following Gabe Davis’ departure in free agency and are considering turning to an AFC rival to address the gap.
According to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on March 12, Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals has requested a trade after negotiations for a long-term contract extension stalled for a year. Although acquiring Higgins would likely come with a significant price tag given his status as the top receiver available, there is speculation among insiders that the Bills could emerge as potential suitors.
Tee Higgins Shared Love for Buffalo
As recounted by USA Today reporter Robert Zeglinski, Tee Higgins expressed admiration for the Buffalo Bills last month when questioned about which quarterbacks he would prefer to play with in the future. Higgins specifically mentioned Bills quarterback Josh Allen, along with quarterbacks from other prominent AFC teams.
Last month #Bengals WR Tee Higgins listed the QBs he would like to play with:
– #Jaguars Trevor Lawrence
– #Texans C.J. Stroud
– #Ravens Lamar Jackson
– #Bills Josh Allen
Where will he end up?
(via @LordDontLose)pic.twitter.com/4wemcYcCSm https://t.co/oQb6POJjHK
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 11, 2024
ESPN reporter Bill Barnwell has included the Buffalo Bills in the realm of potential destinations for a Tee Higgins trade, suggesting it could require a late first-round pick to secure him. This speculation draws parallels to the Bills’ 2020 move when they traded the No. 22 overall pick to the Minnesota Vikings for wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
However, the actual asking price the Cincinnati Bengals might set for Higgins remains unclear, as does their willingness to part ways with him. Last month, the team officially designated Higgins with the franchise tag, offering a one-year tender valued at nearly $21.8 million for the upcoming season.
Duke Tobin, the Bengals’ director of player personnel, expressed admiration for Higgins, indicating the receiver’s importance to their long-term plans. Tobin emphasized their intention to retain Higgins, citing the team’s resources and cap management as facilitating factors for applying the franchise tag.
Despite these discussions, there are doubts about the likelihood of the Bills acquiring Higgins via trade. Robert Zeglinski suggested that the Bengals might be hesitant to send their top receiver to another AFC Super Bowl contender.
Bills Could Save Draft Pick, Land Receiver Prospect
Many experts anticipate that the Buffalo Bills will take a different approach this offseason by retaining their first-round draft pick and selecting one of the talented wide receivers available. Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News highlighted that the Bills not only need to fill the production void left by Gabe Davis for the upcoming season but also need to consider grooming a potential future No. 1 receiver.
Skurski emphasized the dual importance of addressing the wide receiver position in both the short and long term, as the Bills will eventually need to find a successor for Stefon Diggs. Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports projected the Bills to use their No. 28 overall pick on Oregon receiver Troy Franklin, a 6-foot-3 target known for his ability to make big plays. Conversely, Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News suggested that the Bills might target another sizable pass-catcher in 6-foot-4 LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
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