SI: Panthers 'Should Do Everything They Can' to Sign Tee Higgins

The Panther will look to upgrade the wide receiver room this offseason, but will Tee Higgins be in the mix?

Author:
Schuyler Callihan
Feb 21, 2024 11:13 AM EST

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Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated recently listed one move each team in the NFC South should make this offseason.

As you would expect, his choice for the Carolina Panthers was to sign a wide receiver. The pick? Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals.

"The Panthers desperately need a No. 1 wide receiver to help 2023 No. 1 pick Young, who had a rough rookie season, partly because of the lack of playmakers in Carolina. If Higgins hits the open market, the Panthers should do everything they can to sign the Cincinnati Bengals’ 6'4", 219-pound wideout. Higgins has shown flashes of being a legitimate No. 1 target while catching passes from Joe Burrow and playing with star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. The Bengals have cap space, but they still need to pay Chase and they already locked down Burrow with a massive contract extension. Higgins could be the odd man out in Cincinnati, and Carolina better make sure to benefit from it."

While I agree Higgins would be a terrific addition to the Panthers' offense, I'm concerned about the price tag. There's also the possibility that the Bengals could tag and trade Higgins, meaning you're having to not only pay a sizable contract but give up draft compensation as well.

If for whatever reason the Bengals just let Higgins hit the open market, it will make the idea a little more appealing. But again, it comes down to the asking price. The Panthers don't need to just throw money at a receiver when the offense is a mess globally.

In 2023, Higgins caught 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns across eleven games. In the previous two years, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on 74 receptions each season.