If you tuned in for the 2024 season and watched how it all wrapped up, congratulations, you witnessed why millions of people love this sport. Now the judgment day is over, and the Eagles have flown away with the Lombardi, the offseason is here. It’d be wrong to think that it’s just a time for steaming off. Absolutely not! Just like for a painter, every brushstroke in his painting is important for the masterpiece, for teams, every decision is important for building a Super Bowl-winning team.

And the tug of war has already started for the players. Which one to keep? Should they extend the contract? Who to sign? Which one to trade? There are a lot of questions that will be answered soon in the future. And the burning scent of change is already in the air! One of the first people of interest right now is the soon-to-be free agent, Tee Higgins. The Bengals drafted the WR back in the 2020 NFL Draft, and now he’s under everyone’s scope.

If we start talking about some of the most dynamic WRs in the game, it’d be a sin to not throw Tee Higgins in that conversation. The number 5 receiver is literally sitting at the 6th rank with 10 TDs in the regular season. Yeah, there’s a lot he can bring to the table. Just needs the right set of players around him to orchestrate it. Once he goes in the market, there’s no doubt teams will be betting their money on Tee. The Patriots, led by coach Mike Vrabel, are among those keeping a close eye, looking to add his talent to their roster for the right price.

Jason La Canfora recently sparked some serious buzz. He reported that the Patriots are one of the top teams eyeing Tee Higgins in free agency. According to La Canfora, New England really wants him, and they see Higgins as the solution to their long-standing wide receiver problems. But just when Patriots fans started to get excited, a reporter on The Greg Hill Show killed the vibe. He straight-up said, “I’m here to tell you, the Patriots are not going to get T. Higgins.” He didn’t sugarcoat it—teams with more money are going to swoop in and likely leave New England in the dust.

The reporter didn’t stop there. He dropped some hard truth, explaining, “Money only goes so far when there’s other better teams who also have money willing to give it to him.” And he kept it real, saying, “When you’ve got teams like the Ravens, the Chiefs, and other contenders who are in it for a big-time receiver. That’s a big hurdle for the Patriots.” The message was clear—while New England’s interest is real, the competition is just too fierce. And they might not have the financial power to pull this off. It’s a tough spot for the Pats, who’ve been looking for a true No. 1 wideout for years. But it looks like they might be fighting an uphill battle.

But hey, even with the financial hurdles, Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne isn’t giving up hope. He took to TikTok to send a message directly to Higgins, saying, “Hey Tee Higgins, if you out there, I know they screen recording this. Come to the Pats, bro.” Bourne kept it going with, “Drake Maye and Tee Higgins touchdown. Look how good that sound!” While it’s unclear if Bourne’s pitch will be enough to convince Higgins, it’s clear the Patriots are desperate to make this work. Will they pull it off or will the competition be too much to handle? Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Did the Bengals receive a major update on Tee Higgins?

The Bengals are facing a tough but enviable decision this offseason—keeping Tee Higgins or making a strategic shift. Higgins, one of Joe Burrow’s go-to targets, has been a consistent playmaker since joining the team. But now it’s about the Benjamins. The franchise tag would cost Cincy around $26 million, a hefty sum that’s hard to ignore when looking at other financial priorities, like Burrow’s future deal.

With $46 million in cap space, the Bengals are in a decent spot, but throwing that much into a wide receiver corps when they’ve got holes elsewhere feels risky. It’s not just about Higgins, though—it’s about where the Bengals allocate resources moving forward. It doesn’t help that Burrow has publicly expressed his desire to keep Higgins in the fold. He’s made it clear that retaining Higgins would make his job easier. But here’s the issue: while Burrow’s opinion matters, it’s the front office that holds the purse strings.

The Bengals can’t let emotion drive their decisions, especially with such a thin defense. After firing DC Lou Anarumo, they’ve got to make a tough call—do they go all-in on keeping their explosive offense intact, or do they use that $26 million to patch up a defense that’s been torched at times? The Bengals need to keep their Super Bowl window open, but will it be worth sacrificing the defense for more offensive firepower?

The uncertainty surrounding Higgins’ future isn’t just about money—it’s about options. Injuries limited him to 12 games last season. But he still posted over 900 yards and 10 touchdowns, proving he can be a WR1. Then there’s that cryptic Instagram post—”priorities are rare, options are everywhere.”

Fans are left wondering if he’s hinting at wanting out. Should the Bengals prioritize keeping him or shift focus to other needs? With the potential to clear up to $70 million in cap space, the Bengals have a tough call—$26 million for Higgins or fixing a defense that’s been shaky? That decision could shape the franchise’s future. The stakes are high, and it’s crunch time.