Cardinals Named Landing Spot for Tee Higgins
The Arizona Cardinals are no strangers to trades under new general manager Monti Ossenfort.
At the end of preseason play, the Cardinals shipped away Isaiah Simmons and Josh Jones while also facilitating a deal for Josh Dobbs. Arizona has been very forward about adding/subtracting pieces for the future, and Bleacher Report believes they're a fit for Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins, who could be moved after the two sides are far apart on contract negotiations.
Cardinals Named Landing Spot for Tee Higgins
"The Arizona Cardinals appear to be in the midst of a rebuild. Part of rebuilding is identifying and acquiring players whom you can build around. That's exactly what Higgins would be in the desert," said Alex Ballentine.
"Trading a first-round pick for Marquise Brown has not worked out for the Cardinals as hoped. He had 709 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games last season and had just three catches for 28 yards in his 2023 debut.
"Playing without quarterback Kyler Murray has hurt Brown's numbers, but Higgins is still a clear upgrade over him moving forward. The 24-year-old already has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons on his resume, while Brown only has one such season in four years.
"After this year, the Cardinals will either be in position to get Caleb Williams, another rookie quarterback or roll with a healthy Murray. Either way, they would benefit from having a new No. 1 receiver.
"The Cardinals have one of the smallest receiver rooms in the league with Brown (5'9", 180 pounds), Rondale Moore (5'7", 180 pounds) and Greg Dortch (5'7", 175 pounds) all sporting slight frames.
"They do have Michael Wilson (6'2", 213 pounds) and Zach Pascal (6'2", 215 pounds) but Wilson is a third-round rookie and Pascal is not comparable to Higgins as a receiver.
"Higgins (6'4", 219 pounds) would be unlike any other receiver whom they have on the roster."
Would the Cardinals be up to task in trading for Higgins and giving him a market-level contact?
At this point in time, it's unlikely Brown returns to Arizona unless he agrees to take a hometown discount and stay, though he'll be a free agent for the first time in his career and likely wants the biggest payday possible.
The Cardinals - in the beginning stages of a rebuild - may not see paying top dollar to a receiver as a priority heading into this offseason.
