The Cincinnati Bengals’ less than ideal contract negotiations with star wide out Tee Higgins have kept the team in the news for the entire summer. Tyler Boyd, a gifted slot receiver, is sure to go during the free agency window, thus Cincinnati needs to talk to Higgins now more than ever because his absence would leave the team’s receiving corps somewhat weak. The wide receiver market is in a ludicrous state that has resulted in receivers like Mike Evans and Calvin Ridley signing massive contracts, so the odds aren’t good.
If the worst were to happen with Higgins leaving the team this offseason on (hopefully) a sizeable trade package, Cincinnati would be left with All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and a few day three draft picks from last year’s draft class. That certainly doesn’t bode well for superstar quarterback Joe Burrow with a surge of inexperienced wide receivers coming into the starting lineup. I’m as big of a believer of young players Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones as anyone but the team may be looking to hedge their bets coming off such a turbulent offseason.
With so much at risk on the backs of a couple of young receivers, Cincinnati may elect to pick a player in the draft or use the draft collateral received from Higgins’ trade (a presumed second-round pick) to replenish the pool of pass catchers on the team. Considering that both Chase and Burrow went to LSU and established one of the greatest offenses in college football history, that might be exactly where the team looks to fill the spot.
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