Look at a lot of current assessments of where the Detroit Lions have a void on the offensive side of the ball, and it's wide receiver. More precisely, a lack of proven production at wide receiver outside of Amon-Ra St. Brown is a thing. There are those who think Jameson Williams is a lock to break out this year, but right now that can't be projected very confidently.
In March, Ben Solak of The Ringer suggested the Lions trade the 29th overall pick in the draft for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Higgins was franchise tagged by Cincinnati, and had reportedly asked for a trade. Contract talks had apparently gone nowhere, or not even happened in a long time.
Fast forward to now, and Higgins is not at Bengals' OTAS. Since he hasn't signed his franchise tender, he literally can't be there. Adding a little fuel to the fire on Thursday, after news that Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has gotten a new deal, Higgins posted this on Instagram.
#Bengals WR Tee Higgins on Instagram:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 30, 2024
"I tell em no, they can’t wait to call me selfish…" pic.twitter.com/bwHNywc4l2
Blockbuster trade proposal for Tee Higgins, at the proposed cost, makes sense for the Lions
Based on their recent history with the franchise tag, the Bengals won't be signing Higgins to a multi-year deal. If he doesn't sign the franchise tender, he literally isn't under contract and has no obligation (nor can he, technically) show up to practice.
So the Bengals, shy of a rare move to rescind the franchise tender, may be left to cut their losses and trade Higgins. On that front, and on the notion Bengals rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton shows himself well at OTAs, Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report has offered up five trade packages the Bengals may have to consider.
One proposal involves the Lions.
Cincinnati Bengals receive: 2025 second-round pick and a 2025 4th-round pick (via Philadelphia Eagles)
Detroit Lions receive: WR Tee Higgins
It's unclear which of their 2025 fourth-round picks the Lions gave up to trade up and get Sione Vaki in April's draft. But that aside, second and fourth-round picks next year for a 25-year old wide receiver is a very reasonable cost.
Higgins' franchise tender, if/when he signs it, is worth $21.8 million for this year (fully guaranteed). As Moton mentioned and we can see via Over The Cap, the Lions have a shade over $31 million in cap space right now.
Once June 1 has come and gone, so literally next week, Detroit will gain another $10.5 million in cap space for this year from designating cornerback Cameron Sutton as a post-June 1 cut when he was released in March. So they can take on Higgins franchise tag for this year, and perhaps work on a multi-year deal with him.
After the draft, general manager Brad Holmes suggested the Lions could add a wide receiver before training camp. The easy insinuation there is someone who's a depth/camp body addition, not someone who would tilt the target tree his way.
But even a faint opportunity to add Higgins shouldn't be totally turned away from until it's been explored, and there's some genuine due diligence a lot of teams could be doing there. That includes the Lions, with no less than having the league's No. 1 offense this year in mind.