Getty Cincinnati Bengals WR T-Shirt Higgins.
Entering the 2023 season, the Las Vegas Raiders had the fourth-oldest roster in the NFL with an average age of 26.6 years. Considering the team has made the playoffs just once in the last six seasons, going younger could be the next full-time general manager’s decision.
Davante Adams is still playing at a high level, but he turns 31 in December. Bleacher Report floated the idea of moving on from Adams in a trade and making a run at Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.
“The fact is that Adams is 30 years old and has been a contender for most of his career. He might be worth trading for a solid return on investment,” BR NFL Staff wrote in a Nov. 13 column.
“That would leave a big hole for a No. 1 wide receiver, and that’s exactly the role Tee Higgins will be looking for in free agency. The Bengals receiver was a great candidate for Ja’Marr Chase, but he’s capable of being the undisputed No. 1 option.”
Higgins is coming off back-to-back seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards and is just 24 years old. The Bengals could decide against giving him a big contract with Ja’Marr Chase facing a big payday. That would open the door for a team like the Raiders to sign Higgins as a free agent.
What type of contract will Tee Higgins seek?
Considering the Raiders are paying Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Hunter Renfrow big money to play wide receiver, it seems like a far-fetched idea that they would want another expensive player at the position barring a trade gives. According to Spotrac, Tee Higgins’ four-year market value is $63.7 million.
Higgins could potentially get even more on the open market. However, he is in the midst of a lackluster season. He missed three games due to injury and only has 328 receiving yards. With quarterback Joe Burrow now out for the season, it’s unlikely that Higgins will reach 1,000 yards. After a weak season, his price could drop.
Many teams place a lot of value on wide receivers, so Higgins may still be able to get a big deal, but it’s hard to imagine him ending up among the top five highest-paid wide receivers.
Should the Las Vegas Raiders keep Davante Adams long-term?
Even though the Raiders are 2-0 in Antonio Pierce, there is still heavy speculation about the Davante Adams trade. Why keep a budding 31-year-old wide receiver who could be an important player for a contender? Adams never indicated he wanted to be traded, and the Raiders were the team he wanted to play for.
He is a very important player for Las Vegas on the field and in the locker room. Whether or not the Raiders want to stay could depend on how this season goes. If Pierce and interim general manager Champ Kelly do enough to get the full-time positions, it’s hard to imagine them leaving Adams. Unless a team steps up and offers Adams a ridiculous trade package in the offseason, it’s highly likely he’ll still be with the Raiders next season.
Austin Boyd has been reporting on the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Lakers for Heavy.com since 2019. The Los Angeles native now lives in Las Vegas. His featured work at Heavy includes interviews with NFL stars Darren Waller and Joe Montana, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at “The Shop.” More about Austin Boyd
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