The Buffalo Bills have a significant vacuum to fill after dealing wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans, but there is at least one talent who could be available and would be an excellent match in quarterback Josh Allen’s supporting cast.
After the Bengals put the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins, the goal was that the two sides would negotiate a long-term agreement that would keep him receiving passes from Joe Burrow while lowering his cap figure alongside Ja’Marr Chase.
However, the Bengals and Higgins have yet to strike an agreement, which might cause Cincinnati to explore trade possibilities for the 25-year-old before the NFL Draft begins.
According to Bleacher Report, the Buffalo Bills are a great fit and might trade for Higgins.
Could the Buffalo Bills Trade for Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins?
The Bills effectively gave Diggs away, and if Buffalo hopes to compete for the Super Bowl in a loaded AFC, replacing his performance and ability to take the top off an opposing defense may be critical to the franchise’s success in 2024.
There is also speculation within the NFL that Buffalo could move swiftly to replace Stefon Diggs.
“I think it will be a net positive for Buffalo,” a rival AFC East executive told me following the Bills’ Diggs trade. “I believe Josh Allen is that talented. They will draft a receiver, contract another, and possibly utilize some of the additional draft money to make their own trade for a seasoned wideout.”
Higgins caught 42 catches for 565 yards and five touchdowns last season, despite missing two games due to injuries and coping with extremely erratic quarterback play following Burrow’s season-ending wrist injury in Week 11.
Higgins, a consistent deep threat, averaged a career-high 15.6 yards per reception in 2023 and completed the season averaging a staggering 5.6 yards per reception, according to Pro Football Focus.
Higgins might be a great scheme match for the Bills, providing the deep threat that Allen and the team lacked as Diggs’ production plummeted in the final six weeks of the 2023 season.
What Would a Higgins Trade Look Like for Bills?
The Bills don’t exactly have the cap space or assets to move up to the top of the board to make a play for Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers, or Washington’s Rome Odunze, but if the Bengals are unable to sign Higgins, Buffalo could benefit from those talks falling through.
According to Bleacher Report, the Bills will trade a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft (No. 163 overall) and a second-round pick in 2025 for Higgins.
Because Higgins is currently on the franchise tag, the Bills would have to sign him to an extension if they acquired him in a trade, especially because Buffalo currently has only $4.24 million in salary space for the 2017 season.
However, Buffalo is slated to have up to $96.7 million in cap space in 2025 and $293.19 million in cap space in 2026, providing plenty financial flexibility to accommodate a Higgins deal.
Buffalo may benefit from Higgins’ situation with the Bengals breaking down, just as the Texans essentially “stole” Diggs in a trade because the Bills couldn’t see a way forward.
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