Should Commanders Sign Bengals' Tee Higgins in Free Agency?

With the most cap space in the NFL, could the Commanders sign a top receiver to line up across Terry McLaurin?

The Washington Commanders are well-positioned to turn the franchise around in general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn’s first offseason at the helm, but how will they approach fixing the franchise after a 4-13 season?

Washington is projected to have just over $73 million in cap space, the most in the NFL. It also has six picks in the top 102 selections of the 2024 NFL Draft, positioning it to land top players at multiple positions of need. One underrated area of need is a second receiver, and the Commanders are positioned to fill that void through the draft or free agency.

One top option for the Commanders could be Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. The fourth-year receiver is set to hit free agency, though the Bengals could franchise-tag him. Signing him to a long-term deal will prove difficult, as fellow Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase is eligible for a new contract and will likely command a deal that makes him the highest-paid player at his position.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a pass in the third quarter during a Week 16 NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers :: © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Higgins has had at least 65 catches, 900 receiving yards, and six touchdowns in each of his first three seasons before injuries to him and quarterback Joe Burrow limited the Clemson product to 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns.

The Commanders will have a shot at landing Higgins regardless of whether he’s franchise-tagged or hits free agency. Washington can pay him more than other teams, and they also have the draft capital to trade for him if he receives the tag.

Is that the best path for Peters and Quinn in their rebuilding of the Commanders, though?

Washington has a top receiver in Terry McLaurin, who has had at least 77 catches for 1,000 yards and four touchdowns in each of the last four seasons. While the Commanders do need to find a consistent top option across from him, giving up precious draft capital or cap space for a No. 2 receiver is a steep price to pay for a franchise in the middle of a rebuild.

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A Higgins and McLaurin duo could light up the NFL and set up whoever is the Commanders’ quarterback next season for success, but it’s a move that’d be better suited for a team ready to win right now.

Washington needs a quarterback, and its draft capital can position it to move back up for a receiver in the first round. Not only can it fill the void across from McLaurin, but it’ll save Washington money that can be used for other needs on its defense and offensive line.

While signing Higgins or trading for him before agreeing to a long-term deal wouldn’t be a bad move, Peters and Quinn need to strongly consider if that’s how they want to allocate their resources in their first offseason together in Washington.