Tee Higgins (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
With the 2024 NFL Draft inching closer, Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Tee Higgins remains one of the top names to follow on the trade market.

The 25-year-old Tee Higgins requested a trade from the Bengals last month after being assigned the franchise tag, which prevented him from hitting free agency. But at this point, it’s going to take quite the offer for Cincinnati to part with its big-bodied receiver.

If the Bengals were to shop Higgins, they would surely want at least one early-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Cincy is in win-now mode with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, so 2025 draft picks don’t help their chances of winning next season.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay proposed several intriguing trade ideas involving the 2020 second-round pick. One of Kay’s trade proposals has Cincinnati dealing Higgins and the No. 18 pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for the No. 7 selection:

“A trade to the Titans would reunite Higgins with new head coach Brian Callahan, who spent the past five seasons as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator…

If Higgins’ market ends up being hot, the Bengals could make a big jump up the board on draft night. Parlaying the receiver and the No. 18 overall pick into the No. 7 pick could set Cincinnati up for sustained success in the future.

That move would put Cincinnati well within striking distance to land an elite replacement for Higgins. At No. 7, the team would almost be guaranteed one of Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers, the consensus top three wideouts in the 2024 class.”

The Titans made a giant splash in free agency by signing ex-Jacksonville Jaguars star Calvin Ridley to a four-year deal worth $92 million. With perennial Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins also in the fold, the star power is there for second-year QB Will Levis to have a breakout season.

But adding another superstar pass-catcher like Higgins to the mix would give Tennessee the best receiving trio in football. With Higgins, Hopkins and Ridley on the field together, there’s no telling how much Levis could dominate as a sophomore.

Bengals Should Keep Tee Higgins

The Bengals managed to win nine games last year despite a season-ending injury to Burrow, even though their three AFC North rivals each won double-digit games en route to postseason appearances.

The bottom line is that Higgins, Chase and Burrow together give Cincinnati its best chance of winning a Super Bowl. The Bengals could trade Higgins for draft picks, but there’s no point taking that risk when they already know what the two-time 1,000-yard WR can bring to the table.