October 11th 2024.
As we approach the one-third mark of the season, the Broncos seem to have many opportunities ahead of them, except for one glaring issue: their receivers. Despite this, the team is currently riding a three-game winning streak, giving fans hope for the future. This is largely due to their impressive defense and a steadily improving offense. A quick look at their schedule reveals that they could easily reach a record of 6-2 or 5-3 by the halfway point of the season.
With November 5th just around the corner, the team will need to make a move at the trade deadline to secure a proven target. This is especially crucial for their quarterback, Bo Nix, and if the team continues to perform well, they certainly deserve to make a big move. The obvious choice would be to acquire Cincinnati's Tee Higgins, but this is no easy task due to financial constraints and the Bengals' own schedule.
Before any objections are raised, it's important to note that the Broncos can make a move without going all-in. Acquiring a receiver would only require minimal draft capital, and there have been reports that the Raiders are looking for a second-round pick for Davante Adams, while also taking on his remaining salary. Could the Broncos secure Higgins for a third-round pick? While it was rumored before the season that the Bengals wanted a second-round pick for him, their bargaining power has decreased as Higgins gets closer to free agency.
But will he even be available? That remains to be seen. The Bengals may currently have a record of 1-4, but their next four games present an opportunity to turn things around. So why should the Broncos be interested in Higgins if Cincinnati falters? For one, he is only 25 years old, making him almost four years younger than the Broncos' current top two targets: Courtland Sutton and Josh Reynolds. Additionally, the Broncos have not had a receiver reach 1,000 yards since 2019, while Higgins has already achieved this feat twice, thanks in part to his own talent and playing with star quarterback Joe Burrow. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Higgins also fits the mold of what coach Sean Payton looks for in a receiver, as he is a threat after the catch.
The Broncos are well aware of their need for playmakers, but there are no indications that they will make a move until after the season. This is why their upcoming game against the Chargers is so important. A win in this game would solidify the team as a contender, and while some may see them as a team in transition, Payton and owner Greg Penner entered the season with high expectations for improvement.
And improvement has been made in many areas, except for the receiver position. Acquiring Higgins is no easy feat, as he is currently playing under the franchise tag of $21.8 million, which would also apply to any acquiring team. This means that no long-term contract negotiations can take place until after the season. However, if the Broncos were to acquire him, they would owe him roughly $11 million for the remaining nine weeks of the season. The motivation behind this move would be twofold: boosting the passing game (currently ranked 28th at 163.8 yards per game) and signing Higgins to a new deal as their number one receiver before he becomes a free agent. This is why this move makes so much sense.
Of course, the biggest challenge would be fitting this move under the salary cap. The Broncos are already in a tight spot, having converted $11.875 million of Sutton's salary into a bonus to make room for Pat Surtain II's new deal. One potential solution could be to give left tackle Garett Bolles a contract extension, and if that's not enough, they could also consider trading backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham.
Higgins would be a game-changer for the Broncos, as he possesses all the qualities they have been lacking since the days of Demaryius Thomas. In just three games (he missed some time due to a hamstring injury), he is averaging six catches and 61 yards per game, with two touchdowns as the secondary target to Ja'Marr Chase. In comparison, Sutton is currently on pace for 58 catches, 762 yards, and three touchdowns. These numbers are very similar to his stats over the past three seasons, and we must acknowledge that his 10 touchdowns in 2023 were likely an outlier due to playing with Russell Wilson.
This is not to say that Sutton is not a valuable player, but he would be better suited as a number two receiver alongside Higgins, pushing Reynolds (who has been dealing with multiple injuries) into a more suitable role. While Sutton's stats and separation on routes may be suffering, his leadership is not. He has shown admirable maturity in navigating this experience with a rookie quarterback and has a "team-first" mentality.
As the second-longest tenured player on the team, Sutton has never experienced a winning season, let alone a playoff berth. Achieving these goals will require sacrifice, and acquiring Higgins would not only make the Broncos a better team, but it would also make Sutton's life easier.
While there are certainly other options available, such as rescuing Amari Cooper from Cleveland (although he is 30 years old and would only be a rental), or trading for veteran tight end Austin Hooper from New England, these moves would not have the same impact as acquiring Higgins. Winners are not afraid to make bold moves, and if there is a receiver out there who could help the Broncos, they need to take a swing for the fences.
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