The New England Patriots seemingly were prepared to make huge splashes in NFL free agency, but they never had a chance to add several potential game-changers.
Ronnie Stanley elected to forego free agency so he could stay with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Chris Godwin technically did reach the open market, but it became clear the star wideout never was going to leave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tee Higgins, meanwhile, received the franchise tag from the Bengals, which shut down the possibility of the Patriots adding him this offseason but kept hope alive for next year. That was until Cincinnati signed the marquee pass-catcher — and running mate Ja’Marr Chase — to an expensive long-term contract.
The latest Higgins development probably was a tough pill to swallow in New England, where Mike Vrabel and company “really wanted” to add the 2020 second-rounder to Drake Maye’s arsenal, per FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
The Patriots’ reported strong interest in Higgins shouldn’t surprise anyone. The Clemson product was supremely productive over his first NFL contract, totaling a combined 330 catches for 4,595 yards with 34 touchdowns across five seasons. And at 26 years old, Higgins could have formed a dynamic tandem with Maye for years to come.
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But New England can’t afford to dwell on Higgins sticking around in Cincinnati. The Patriots must focus on vastly improving their skill-position group before a pivotal 2025 season.