Patriots Predicted to Land $108 Million Star Wide Receiver in Free Agency
January 12, 2025
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The New England Patriots have a lot to be excited about. The team just signed Mike Vrabel as the 16th head coach of the franchise.
Read more: Patriots Hire Mike Vrabel as Head Coach With Multi-Year Agreement: Report
Vrabel returns to the Patriots after spending the 2001 to 2008 seasons with the team as a linebacker. He would secure three Super Bowl victories during New England’s dominant run under Bill Belichick.
Now, Vrabel is back to lead the team. The good news is he is also entering a great situation for a rebuild.
The Patriots lead the NFL in projected cap space in 2025, coming in at around $120 million. They also own the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, along with having a young upstart quarterback in Drake Maye.
That said, the Patriots have a glaring hole at wide receiver, and there is one star they could target that would immediately boost the position.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 05: The New England Patriots walk to the field before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Patriots predicted to sign star… FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 05: The New England Patriots walk to the field before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Patriots predicted to sign star wide receiver to $108 million deal.
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More news: Patriots’ Robert Kraft Admits to Feeling ‘Guilty’ For Making Jerod Mayo Head Coach
After studying the NFL CBA and the market for receivers, Newsweek Sports predicts the Patriots will land current Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins with a four-year, $108 million deal.
Higgins used his “contract year” to boost his value completely, securing 911 yards and 10 touchdowns through 12 games. Despite being held back by a few injuries in 2024, he showcased elite skills.
Higgins made $21.8 million on a franchise tag in 2024 and has the comparable stats to be paid as a top-10 receiver in the NFL.
A four-year, $108 million deal would place Higgins at $27 million AAV. This figure would place him among the same contracts as Chicago Bears’ D.J. Moore and New York Jets’ Davante Adams. Both Moore and Adams are in the top 10 of highest-paid receivers.
Higgins has longed for a long-term deal and nearly held out of the 2024 season to get one. The Bengals chose to franchise tag the receiver, instead of giving him a contract extension, which could spurn him to seek a deal elsewhere.
The other issue is the Bengals having some big commitments to deal with currently in the massive contract for quarterback Joe Burrow, and the pending mega contract extension for Ja’Marr Chase.
The Bengals do have a reported $44 million in cap space heading into 2025, which could benefit the team by allowing a new extension for Higgins. However, the pending bigger contracts might take precedence.
Higgins would be an incredible addition to an ailing Patriots team that has lacked a solid pass catcher. Tight end Hunter Henry tops the receiving yards list in 2024 for the team, coming in at 674 total yards. Right behind him is DeMario Douglas at 621.
The Patriots need a solid WR1, and Higgins could provide that for New England. The team also picks at No. 4 and could add a solid pass catcher in Travis Hunter (if he falls that far), along with possibly targeting Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona.
More NFL:
Predicting NFL Head Coach Hires for 2025 Season
Deion Sanders Has ‘Strong Interest’ in Raiders Head Coach Position: Report
For more on the Patriots, head to Newsweek Sports.
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