Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated has identified one move that each NFC South team should make this summer. As one might imagine, his choice for the Carolina Panthers was to sign a wide receiver. Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals was the chosen candidate.
“The Panthers desperately need a No. 1 wide receiver to help 2023 No. 1 pick Young, who had a rough rookie season due in part to Carolina’s lack of playmakers.” If Higgins enters the open market, the Panthers should do everything they can to sign the Cincinnati Bengals’ 6’4″, 219-pound wide receiver. Higgins has shown signs of being a true No. 1 target, catching passes from Joe Burrow and playing with standout wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. The Bengals have financial space, but they still need to pay Chase, and they have already signed Burrow to a hefty contract extension. Higgins could be the odd man out in Cincinnati, and Carolina should take advantage of it.
While I believe that Higgins would be an excellent addition to the Panthers’ attack, I am concerned about the price tag. There’s also the risk that the Bengals will tag and move Higgins, which would require you to not only pay a large deal but also forfeit draft compensation. If the Bengals simply let Higgins go free agent, the notion will become more tempting. However, the asking price remains the deciding factor. When the offense is a complete disaster, the Panthers do not need to just throw money at a receiver.
Higgins caught 42 catches in eleven games in 2023, totaling 656 yards and five touchdowns. In the previous two years, he had 74 receptions for over 1,000 yards each season
