The Dream of the Patriots Making Tee Higgins Their WR1 is Reportedly Dead

First we lose Gene Hackman, and now this.

There was a dream that existed in the heart of every Patriots fan. A dream that we'd finally have a truly elite wide receiver. I don't mean 2019 Julian Edelman, gaining more yards from his slot position (1,117) than the next three wideouts combined (1,043). I mean a genuine X-receiver they could line up on the side away from the tight end, pressure defenses, and force opposing coaches to take up their valuable prep time gameplanning for them. Someone big, rangy and fast, with great hands and a catch radius of the net behind the goalposts. And above all, just entering his prime. 

And for a while, that dream seemed close to becoming reality:

But as of today, it's reportedly deader than Little Bill Daggett:

We might have deserved Tee Higgins. But "deserves" got nothin' to do with it:

Source (paywall) - New England’s blueprint for the offseason does not include pursuing Higgins, the No. 1 free agent-to-be on our top-150 big board. As the Patriots are reshaped in Mike Vrabel’s likeness, they want to prioritize building through the offensive and defensive lines and will make that goal No. 1 of this offseason. … So expect their biggest free-agent signings to come in the trenches — not at wide receiver.

“The game is always won on the lines — offensive line, defensive line,” Wolf said Wednesday. “Not just because of the (Philadelphia Eagles in the) Super Bowl — it’s always been that way.” …

In free agency, the Patriots are planning to focus on the offensive and defensive lines. While that could give them more flexibility with the fourth pick in the draft, going after an offensive or defensive lineman there remains the likeliest option.

It’s all part of Vrabel’s plan to overhaul the team in the trenches, and there’s a lot of work to be done.

I've been struggling with this very philosophy all offseason. Because on the one hand, the offensive line has been THE major area of need on this team for longer than receiver has. They've been chasing a solution at left tackle ever since Nate Solder walked in free agency in 2018. And have been patching up the guard spots with Flex Seal ever since the inexplicable decisions to let Joe Thuney (2021) and Shaq Mason (2022) go. If they finally quit jerking around and finally build an O-line in front of Drake Maye that can stay together for the foreseeable future, you'll get no complaints out of anyone in New England. 

On the other hand, the league has evolved since the days the Pats were going to AFC championships every year with the likes of Edelman, Danny Amendola and Chris Hogan on the outside. Yes, the Eagles won the last Super Bowl in the trenches. But they also had 2nd Team All Pro AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. You used to be able to compete for championships without a top tier WR1. But the one consistent element among all the top playoff contenders of the last five-plus years has been an unstoppable QB/WR hookup. The Patriots currently have the first part. But hey're sorely lacking in the second part, unless you see Pop Douglas' ceiling as much higher than the rest of us do. And with all due respect, I'll argue that defensive coordinators around the league aren't popping Xanax to cope with the stress of trying to stop him.

So put me down for being disappointed that no effort is going to be made to add Higgins to Maye's limited arsenal of weapons. But I'm not ashamed to treat the disappointment with a little sour grapes. From the same article:

Plus, some decision-makers around the league are skeptical Higgins would be worth the roughly $30 million per season he could command in free agency.

Higgins has also dealt with nagging injuries of late, playing just 12 of 17 games in each of the last two seasons. Only six wide receivers have signed deals worth $30 million or more a year: Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tyreek Hill and Brandon Aiyuk.

So he's damaged goods? We should consider ourselves lucky Wolf and de facto GM Mike Vrabel didn't do anything dumb like actually pay Higgins $30 million a year? So … yay? I guess? 

Sorry, but that doesn't help. Life comes at you fast in this league. Those deals that seem outrageous at the time quickly turn into bargains when the next guy (Ja'Marr Chase) hits free agency and gets way more. And to butcher a line from a non-Gene Hackman movie, for it is money the Patriots have. And wide receivers they lack.

But the plan is to rebuild this roster from the inside-to-out. The way it used to be done during the best of times. So be it. 

What this means to the No 4 pick, free agency will be determined by what they can pick up in free agency. Assuming they find a viable solution at LT like Ronnie Staley, Cam Robinson or Mekhi Becton, then they'll be freed up to take whoever remains on the board between Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter. If not, then they'll need to grab their Dealer's Choice between Will Campbell, Kelvin Banks or possibly Josh Simmons. Which would be way less sexy than Hunter or Carter, but no less an area of need.

Regardless, this report and Wolf's comments seem to indicate the approach to roster building this year is going to be the same methodical, foundational approach that built the Dynasty. As opposed to the splashy, quick-fix of going after the most desirable skill position guy on the market. Oh well. It was a fun dream while it lasted.