Every Cincinnati Bengals fan will be waiting with bated breath for the 2024 NFL Draft. Could the team truly deal wide receiver Tee Higgins to the highest bidder?
Higgins is now taking up roughly $22 million of the Bengals’ overall salary budget after being assigned the franchise tag earlier this offseason. The former Clemson second-round pick will undoubtedly want to be fairly compensated for his contributions over four seasons in the NFL, but the Bengals signed quarterback Joe Burrow to a historic contract and will have to pay Ja’Marr Chase in the near future.
If the Bengals are unable to reach a long-term agreement with Higgins before the 2024 NFL Draft, he may be the subject of one of the most significant deals of the weekend. Let’s look at what that scenario may look like for the Cincinnati Bengals.
1. 18th overall: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
When in doubt, the Bengals could just keep going back to LSU, right?
The Bengals already have Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, and while Brian Thomas Jr. was not on the coveted 2019 roster, he may fit in well in Cincinnati alongside some fellow LSU graduates.
Thomas is an excellent athlete in every single area, and he used those abilities to great effect in his final season with the Tigers, catching 17 touchdown passes (to lead all FBS receivers) and averaging 17.3 yards per reception overall. He was awarded third-team All-American and impressed at the NFL Combine with a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash and a 38.5-inch vertical jump, all while standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 209 pounds.
With Thomas in the fold, a Tee Higgins move would be lot more justified.
