The Patriots could really use one more dynamic receiver, the kind they can stack on top of their depth chart as the unquestioned No. 1 guy. But that player isn’t exactly easy to find – and would probably cost them.

That’s reportedly the case with Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2023. Cincy will almost certainly have to commit hundreds of millions of dollars to keeping quarterback Joe Burrow and top wideout Ja’Marr Chase, possibly making Higgins too expensive to keep.

Higgins, then, is a candidate to go the way of A.J. Brown in the 2023 off-season, as the next high-end receiver talent to be traded and then extended by his new team. But it sounds like Higgins’ price tag will be quite high, one way or another.

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• As part of a deep dive into the Bengals’ roster-building situation by Paul Dehner Jr. at The Athletic, if “the numbers are outrageous” on Higgins’ contract demands, and “it’s clear the two sides won’t see eye to eye,” then the Bengals “could go the route” of trading Higgins for a top draft pick. They could then use that selection on one of the top receivers in the draft. The simplest comp is the Titans, who traded A.J. Brown to the Eagles for a first-round pick in 2022, which they used to select Treylon Burks out of Arkansas.

  In the case of the Patriots, you’re talking about the 14th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. But you’re also talking about an extension for Higgins, one that the Bengals would apparently consider “outrageous.”

  It’s always Cryptic Tweet SZN in the NFL, so leave it to Higgins himself to tweet two days after the Athletic report: “Here y’all go.” With a crying laughing emoji. Take that for what you will, but it’s hard not to connect the dots between Higgins and the insinuation that he’s going to ask for an outrageous amount of money on his next contract.

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  FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 24: Tee Higgins #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches a pass over Marcus Jones #25 of the New England Patriots during the second half at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Nick Grace/Getty Images)

• Can’t blame him if he does. Higgins has averaged 84 catches, 1,201 yards, and seven touchdowns per 17 games over the last two seasons, despite being second on the team in targets to Chase. Thrust into a go-to No. 1 role on a good offensive operation, Higgins should surpass those numbers.

  It would be hard to believe that the Patriots actually pay the kind of deal it might require to extend Higgins. Just to make it into the top-5 highest-paid receivers, Higgins would command an average annual value north of $25 million (A.J. Brown), and fully guaranteed money north of $41.6 million (D.J. Moore).

  But if they did swing such a big move, they’d certainly answer their biggest question of the off-season now that they’ve reworked their coaching staff: what do they do at wide receiver? What do they think they need to do?

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  ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 08: Kendrick Bourne #84 of the New England Patriots and Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots celebrate with DeVante Parker #1 of the New England Patriots after Parker’s receiving touchdown during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

• The Pats have DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, and Tyquan Thornton under contract for 2023, and could still re-sign Jakobi Meyers, who’s on track to become a free agent. So if they wanted to make a big trade for a guy like Higgins, that could make one of the aforementioned guys that much more expendable. That, or the Pats could have the best No. 4 receiver in the league.

  Other big swings to think about among receiver comps for Higgins are the Broncos’ Jerry Jeudy and the Eagles’ Devonta Smith. If the 2022 off-season is any indication, there’s always the possibility of more fireworks at the league’s most firework-y position.

  We’ll continue to keep you updated throughout the Patriots’ off-season here at 985TheSportsHub.com.

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  Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

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