one year, in the not too far distant past, tyler boyd was our #1 receiver. he did really well, although the team as a whole did not.
Jefferson, Hill, Adams, Chase, Diggs, Brown, Kupp (though injury does put him in some question), Lamb, Debo, St. Brown, McLaurin, Evans, Waddle, Allen, Cooper, Metcalf...
I would not rank Cooper or Metcalf ahead of Higgins, and I would put up a argument for Kupp, Allen, possibly McLaurin..some old ass players in there too with Evans, Adams and Diggs who I would make an argument of having Higgins over them at this stage in their careers.
Sure, but Higgins also struggled mightily last year as well...
If you're going to penalize some guys for age (which I do not disagree with), you should also penalize others for durability. And Higgins has been injured a lot. The games played stat doesn't do much here as there have been at least 4 games I can count that he started but didn't finish a game. He's had hamstring problems, multiple concussions, shoulder issues, and broken ribs. Maybe this is just fluky stuff, but it sure seems like a trend.
Chase is a beast. only the Bengals could mess up his stats.
Burrow was in his second year when Chase was a rookie and didn't miss a snap due to injury that year that I am aware of.
That means he is a #1 on 12-15 teams still.
If Higgins is 20th...he can be #1 on some teams, yes...those teams likely don't have a true #1...and that is what I've been saying ALL ALONG...he's a lower tier #1, top tier #2.
www.nbcsports.com
I keep pointing out that the mega deals are not worth the paper the contract is printed on, and that goes for the majority of players/positions. You're not seeing the end years where the big money comes. Either they are cut or restructured, etc...but the smaller deals where you are A more likely to see the entire contract, and B - actualize that contract and it's monetary terms/conditions. So, a smaller deal with a year, or two, less may seem like a terrible deal - but in the end - the player actually ends up making more money - and these shorter deals also allow them to get back on the market sooner to get another contract. Guys like Chase, Jefferson, Higgins - IMO - they should be looking to make a solid team friendly deal where they will see nearly 100% of the contract, and give them, and the team, some freedom in another 3 years to hit the market.This article has good perspective on receiver deals. They seem much bigger than they are.... If Hill and Adams are only truly clearing 23 million per year, the Bengals probably aren't offering anything close to that number. And the tag is actually pretty damn good value for the player. I think Higgins agent is probably okay with (even if he won't say it) Higgins playing on the tag given the compensation.
Top receiver deals definitely aren't what they seem to be
New-money analysis, phony back-end years pump numbers to untrue heights.
www.pff.com
There has been a strange dialogue about how the Benals are mistreating Higgins by not coming to terms on a long term deal to get him off the tag. Some of this has been fueled by players at other positions signing deals after the tag. But, given the true value of these receiver deals AND the fact that Higgins will now make more than the other talented players playing on the 5th year option (Jefferson, Lamb, Ayeuk) and Higgins is actually doing quite well for a player at his position. I think this is why you see him showing know concerns about playing for the Bengals on the tag this year (most recent interview).
Right - the concern is the injury and then not having the 'long term' contract, but again - with so much of it on the back end being "fluff" money - any true injury is going to nullify that mega deal. Might get a few more million up front, but not likely a ton more. And really, outside of losing a limb - most injuries are not going to prevent guys from getting paid if they are good enough.
