New Report Surfaces About Patriots’ Interest In Tee Higgins

Tee Higgins will learn his fate soon, as will the Patriots and the rest of the NFL.

But in the meantime, the Foxboro Faithful has been given more assurances the Patriots would be interested if the star wide receiver becomes available.

“The Patriots planned to pursue Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins until it was reported last week the Bengals are expected to retain him via the franchise tag for a second straight year,” the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed wrote in a story published Sunday.

“League sources universally do not see Higgins as being available right now. But if the Bengals pivot at the last minute, one agent offered at the combine: ‘Everyone in the league knows (the Patriots) want Tee.'”

The report from the Boston Herald echoed something recently expressed by Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi. However, it does follow a report from The Athletic which stated the Patriots would not pursue Higgins even if he reached the open market.

Those were not the only such conflicting reports, though. Shortly after it was reported the Bengals would use their franchise tag on Higgins if the two sides couldn’t come to terms on a long-term deal, some around the league questioned how Cincinnati could keep its core intact given the deals for quarterback Joe Burrow and No. 1 wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

The Bengals have until Tuesday to place their franchise tag on Higgins. If they don’t do so, the 26-year-old wideout will have plenty of suitors lining up for his services. He would be the main attraction in free agency.

The Patriots should be among the teams. Whether they are, however, remains to be seen.