Mile High Report
Should the Broncos make a big splash in free agency and sign Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins?
The biggest name that could be available during free agency is Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. He is coming off a year where he played on the Franchise Tag and now is a pending free agent on the verge of a major payday.
He is coming off a year where he played in 12 games where he totaled 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdown receptions. He did this as the number two option in the explosive Bengals passing attack, which included Ja’Marr Chase. Ironically, his best performance of the year came against the Broncos. In a must-win game for both teams, Higgins abused the Broncos and returning cornerback Riley Moss. In that game, he totaled 11 receptions for 131 yards and 3 touchdowns. During his career, Higgins has totaled 330 receptions for 4,595 yards and 34 receiving touchdowns.
Now, with the Broncos looking to surround quarterback Bo Nix with weapons this offseason, could they make a big splash in free agency and sign Tee Higgins?
The Broncos need to add more playmakers on offense, they have available cap space, and, more importantly, cash on hand to make a big splashy deal. Higgins would be the biggest playmaker available in free agency and would give quarterback Bo Nix another big and explosive weapon to target in the passing game.
At wide receiver, they have veteran Courtland Sutton, who will turn 30 years old and is entering the final year of his deal. He wanted a new contract from the team last year and has been part of trade rumors, so we’ll see what happens this offseason. All-Pro return man Marvin Mims had a breakout second half of the year as a receiver but still has a limited route tree. Then you have Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin entering their first full offseason with the Broncos. Their development this offseason will be key for the Broncos and will influence what the team does at wide receiver this offseason.
Adding Higgins would give the Broncos another legitimate option in the passing game to pair with Sutton and Mims. This would allow Vele and Franklin to develop and be role players for Sean Payton throughout the year. Vele can be your big slot and rotate in for Mims while Franklin can be your deep threat.
The Broncos have a limited timetable to take advantage of Bo Nix being on a rookie contract, so now is the time to invest in high-priced playmakers like Tee Higgins. We all saw the Broncos' defense have no answers for Higgins when he went for 100+ yards and had 3 touchdown receptions. Giving Bo Nix a playmaker like that would help the Broncos offense take that next step this upcoming season and allow them to address the running back and tight end positions via the draft.
