The Washington Commanders are looking to surround rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels with the weapons needed to build on a phenomenal rookie campaign this offseason. Speculation continues to rise about a daring raid for wide receiver Tee Higgins in free agency.
Higgins will be the hottest commodity on the market if the Cincinnati Bengals let things get that far. They want to keep him around, but director of player personnel Duke Tobin admitted that some common ground must be reached with his agent before everything gets confirmed.
The former Clemson standout is ascending and only just entering his prime. Higgins' representatives will also know that there could be several teams looking to secure his signature in free agency. That drives the price up and makes things more difficult from Cincinnati's perspective.
If something cannot be agreed upon, the Commanders have a chance to swoop. General manager Adam Peters won't be alone in coveting Higgins if this is the avenue of choice, but Washington's resurgence and Daniels under center make them an attractive destination once again.
Commanders named as beat landing spot if Tee Higgins leaves the Bengals
This was a sentiment echoed by Tim Crean from Clutch Points. The NFL analyst named the Commanders as the best free-agent fit for Higgins if he doesn't re-sign with the Bengals. He also thought moving from Joe Burrow to Daniels wouldn't impact his numbers all that much.
"If not the Bengals, a nice Tee Higgins 2025 NFL free agency landing spot is with the Washington Commanders. Here, the WR will be more of a 1A instead of a No. 2, as Terry McLaurin is a star, although not the superstar that Chase is. He also should get a massive payday as the Commanders' new ownership will continue to show their fans that this isn’t the Daniel Snyder Era anymore. The big adjustment for Higgins is moving away from [Joe] Burrow, but going over to Jayden Daniels, who just had one of the best rookie QB seasons in NFL history, is a safe landing spot."
Tim Crean
There is real momentum building around the media about the Commanders potentially making a move for Higgins. Nothing has been confirmed one way or another and Peters isn't in the habit of letting his movements known beforehand. But if Washington could pull this off without jeopardizing their chances of improving other position groups, it'll be another major statement of intent.
Higgins is projected to get around $25.4 million per season on a four-year, $101.77 million deal according to Spotrac. That could even rise further if a bidding war emerges between interested parties, but it's something the Commanders could potentially afford with almost $83 million in available salary-cap space.
Peters must be aggressive this offseason. Daniels has two years remaining on his rookie deal before he becomes extension-eligible. Capitalizing on his relatively low salary-cap number is crucial if Washington wants to stand any chance of bringing another Super Bowl to D.C.
The Commanders will have a plan in place. Their professionalism and purpose in the front office provide fans with confidence and trust — two things that weren't evident under the previous regime. If Peters feels like splashing the cash to land Higgins is the right thing to do, he won't hesitate to pull the trigger.
Watch this space…
