PFF: Jaguars Should Pursue Bengals' Tee Higgins in Free Agency

Should the Jaguars go after the former Clemson star in free agency this spring?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are facing a key offseason after their disappointing 2023 campaign.

Among the most pressing questions for Jacksonville is how they can improve the offensive line, what they will do with the expiring contracts of Josh Allen and Calvin Ridley, and whether they will extend Trevor Lawrence early. 

When it comes to Ridley specifically, could there be a domino effect? One outlook on the 2024 free agency class suggests it could. 

In a preview of free agency where PFF projected which free agents all 32 teams should pursue, the Jaguars were matched with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. In this scenario, Ridley signs with the Panthers, leading to a change in the wide receiver hierarchy for the Jaguars.

"Styles win fights, but they also help round out passing attacks. And that’s exactly what Higgins would do in Jacksonville. Calvin Ridley saw 22 contested targets for the Jaguars in 2023, a facet in which Higgins has proven he can win as an NFL wideout. He caught 57.6% of his contested targets in 2022 and has proven himself to be a borderline No. 1 receiver when healthy," PFF said.

"It’s a huge offseason both for the Carolina Panthers and for the development of 2023 first-overall draft pick Bryce Young. If he is to take the big step forward required, he will need a separator at the wide receiver position. That’s where Ridley comes in. His first season with the Jaguars was up and down, but he still managed to finish the year with 1,016 yards on 76 receptions, earning a 72.2 PFF receiving grade in the process," PFF said about Ridley. 

It is an interesting proposition for the Jaguars. There are a lot of reasons to believe that Higgins, a former college teammate of Lawrence and a legitimate potential No. 1 receiver, would be a good fit with the Jaguars. The Jaguars internally want to find a larger receiver to make an impact in 2024, and Higgins is probably the top option in terms of ceiling and who is available. 

There is some sunken cost with Ridley, though. The Jaguars already owe the Atlanta Falcons a third-round pick in 2024, and this pick would be upgraded to a second-round pick if he signs an extension with the Jaguars before the start of free-agency. With the Jaguars already down a pick regardless of whether Ridley is on the team or not, could they just opt to retain him and hope for improved efficiency and production in 2024?