Kansas City Chiefs must raid AFC rivals for ‘number one’ wide receiver, says Shannon Sharpe

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One of the biggest blockbuster announcements on the first day of the ‘legal tampering’ window is the Cincinnati Bengals Tee Higgins requesting a trade.

The Bengals’ number two wide receiver wants out after filing a motion for a trade.

Higgins was given the franchise tag by the Bengals as they were not prepared to lose their man.

However, there have not been any contract talks since March 2023 – nearly a whole year ago – as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Higgins wants out

Moreover, the franchise tag is traditionally used to retain a key player at risk of free agency in the hope of engaging in positive contract talks.

There has been no discussion.

So, Higgins now wants out and wants to be paid big.

Shannon Sharpe believes there is one team that should be hitting up the Bengals front office: “As soon as they won the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs should have been on the phone trying to acquire his services, because I believe he’s a number one receiver.

“And at heart, I don’t believe the Bengals are going to be able to pay him because they’ve got J’Marr Chase. He wants a contract.

“Kansas City need Tee Higgins… can you imagine him with Patrick Mahomes, Rashee Rice elevating his game. You’ve still got Trav, oh man.”

Tee Higgins a difficult deal to do

Higgins has spent the last three seasons in the shadow of fellow wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

Schefter believes the wideout man is capable of stepping up to be the main man for a franchise.

Could that team be the Chiefs?

No is the simple answer.

Firstly, the Bengals will be competing with the Chiefs for the AFC Championship next season if Joe Burrow can remain healthy.

Burrow has a 3-1 record against Patrick Mahomes so they would be foolish to bolster a rival franchise.

Secondly, with Rashee Rice having a breakout rookie year in Kansas there have been indications he could be receiver number one.

Rice is the main man

Would the incooperation of Higgins affect Rice’s production?

Also, Patrick Mahomes has one successive Super Bowls without a top-draw receiving core, so do they need him?

Additionally, do they have the finances to afford Tee Higgins after paying Chris Jones? Dealing in the confines of the cap space is a challenge.

There seem to be more reasons against the Chiefs trading for Tee Higgins than the ones in favor.