Tee Higgins for Patriots? Here are the top WRs set to hit free agency, originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots appear to have found their next franchise quarterback in Drake Maye. Now they must find their prized third overall draft pick among playmakers.
New England’s wide receiver room remains a huge weakness even after the position is discussed in the 2024 draft. While second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk and fourth-round pick Javon Baker could still develop into impact players, their rookie campaigns leave a lot to be desired.
The Patriots remained quiet at the NFL trade deadline, so they will have to wait until the offseason to make any necessary improvements to their offense. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, they are expected to be active on the free agent market to find help for their promising young signal caller.
“The Patriots are disappointed with the offensive line and receiver play, but feel they have several players to help matters in 2025 and beyond,” Fowler wrote in his Week 12 column. …
And Maye’s play has energized the building. The Pats got to the key position. Expect New England to once again deploy free will in pass catching and offensive line help to maximize Maye’s impact.
That’s an encouraging update, but are there any impending free agents who could be Maye’s No. 1 target in the coming years? Let’s take a look at the best wideouts that will hit the open market. . .
Tee Higgins
Age: 26
At just 26 years old, Higgins is without a doubt the most intriguing option on this list for the rebuilding Patriots. The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to let the Clemson product walk in free agency, creating a perfect opportunity for him to become Maye’s new No. 1 target.
Higgins has been hampered by injuries the past two seasons, but when healthy he has been among the league’s most productive receivers. He has 295 catches for 4,173 yards and 28 touchdowns in 64 games played over five seasons with Cincy.
With several teams certainly looking for help at receiver, Higgins will cost a pretty penny. Still, with such an obvious need for the position, there’s no reason why the Patriots shouldn’t be among the highest bidders for his services.
Stefon Diggs
Age: 30
Diggs’ name jumps off the page because he has been one of the NFL’s best wideouts for nearly a decade. However, the four-time Pro Bowler suffered a torn ACL in October and now that he’s entering his 30s, his best days are likely behind him.
The argument for signing Diggs? He had six straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards and was on pace to eclipse that mark again with the Houston Texans prior to his injury. Because it has damaged goods, its price should be lower than the other options on this list.
That said, Diggs’ age and injury make him ill-suited for a team-building exercise around a rookie QB. Unfortunately for New England, most of the names on this list are injury-prone or past their prime.
Keenan Allen
Age: 33
The Chicago Bears added Allen and DJ Moore in hopes of reviving their offense with No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams throwing them the ball. These steps have yielded no results as the group remains dysfunctional heading into week 12.
Allen has 30 catches for 282 yards and two touchdowns in eight games played this season. Last year with the Los Angeles Chargers, he had 108 catches for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games.
Like Diggs, Allen is an elite talent with injury issues. And as great as he was in 2023, it’s fair to say the six-time Pro Bowler is nearing the end of his NFL career.
Amari Kuiper
Age: 31
When Cooper signs this coming offseason, it could be with his fourth team since 2021. The five-time Pro Bowler has played for the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills during that period.
Cooper was traded from Cleveland to Buffalo before this year’s deadline. Between the poor QB play and the injury, it was a rough season for the veteran wideout. However, Cooper entered the campaign with at least 1,114 receiving yards in four of his final five seasons. There’s still plenty left in the tank, and he would be a reliable option for Maye to lean on in his first full season as the Patriots’ starting quarterback.
Chris Godwin
Age: 29
Godwin’s 2024 season ended prematurely due to a devastating ankle injury. Before he went down, he was well on his way to his fifth 1,000-plus yard season in six years. When healthy, he was one of the most consistent wideouts in the game.
His injury shouldn’t stop teams from signing him. Godwin has bounced back strong from a season-ending injury when he tore his ACL and MCL in 2021. He will be just 29 years old next season, making him one of the youngest wideouts among the top players in this year’s class.
DeAndre Hopkins
Age: 33
Hopkins’ days as arguably the best wide receiver in football are over, but he’s still a rock-solid option as he approaches his mid-30s. The three-time All-Pro selection produced a 1,057-yard, seven-touchdown season with the lowly Tennessee Titans in 2023. He hasn’t had the same success in 10 games with the Titans and Kansas City Chiefs this year, but that’s largely because of the poor QB play he faced at Tennessee.
The Patriots lost the Hopkins sweepstakes in the 2022 offseason. Perhaps the chance to work with a promising young QB could entice him to sign next spring.
Diontae Johnson
Age: 29
Johnson was traded to the Carolina Panthers last offseason after five solid years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was traded again to the Baltimore Ravens before the deadline.
He led the Panthers with 30 catches, 357 yards and three touchdowns before being shipped to Baltimore, where he was a non-factor during his first three games with the team. While Johnson would immediately become the Patriots’ top pick, New England should likely aim higher if it wants a bona fide No. 1 option.
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown
Age: 28
Brown has yet to play for the Chiefs this season due to injury. Last season with the Arizona Cardinals, he recorded 51 catches for 574 yards (a career-low) and four touchdowns. His best season was his 2021 campaign with the Ravens, when he recorded 91 receptions for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns.
While his injury is concerning, Brown’s speed makes him an intriguing wideout to pair with a strong-armed QB. He’ll also likely be one of the more affordable options on this list, though the Patriots shouldn’t pinch any pennies in their efforts to improve their offense.
