Loaded with the most cap space to use this offseason, the Patriots were predicted to make many big-time moves to dramatically makeover their underwhelming roster, especially with new head coach Mike Vrabel calling the shots. After a less-than-ideal free agency last year, the expectation has been that the new regime will make the necessary moves to put the team in a better position next season and (maybe) compete within the division.

Several holes on the roster will need to be addressed to even attempt accomplishing that, however, with the assumed focus being on the offense. Because quarterback Drake Maye appears to be the next face of the franchise, they must improve the roster around him to set him up to be the most successful, with the receiving corps being among the most dire.

That led to the consensus naming the primary free agent target as Bengals’ Tee Higgins, who was expected to enter free agency for the first time in his career next month. He has been connected to the Patriots for the past two years, as he looked to be a potential trade target.

But the Bengals franchise tagged him in recent weeks, meaning he is tied to their team for, at the very least, the 2025 season. That’s a massive blow to the Patriots’ plans, even if there is a chance that Cincinnati could still trade him, which seems to be the latest chatter regarding their efforts to lock Higgins down with a new contract.

NFL executives aren’t so sure the Bengals will successfully extend Tee Higgins this offseason

While discussing the disappointing news regarding Higgins’s status last week, NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry shared what he’s been hearing from sources around the league regarding the impression of the Bengals getting a deal done to retain Higgins beyond the 2025 season.

Fortunately for the Patriots, it’s far from a done deal and could ultimately lead them to a trade opportunity if things fall through.

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This is quite a shift in the narrative surrounding the situation, as many have felt the two parties would inevitably get a deal done after Higgins’ impressive 2024 season. On top of that, he changed agents not too long ago and is now represented by Rocky Arceneaux, who also represents his teammate, Ja’Marr Chase. Hence, the belief that an extension was inevitable for them both.

However, with many moves needed to create the necessary cap space to keep Higgins and other superstar players they hope to retain, the Bengals might not have as easy of a time as they hoped to accomplish that, which opens the door for the Patriots.

It’s the last hope they’ll have in ever signing Higgins because if his current team extends him, it’s unlikely the Patriots will ever have a chance to keep him on the roster for at least the next four years.

If the Bengals open the phone lines to discuss a trade between now and the draft, the Patriots are in the best standing to get a deal done. Not only do they have the most cap space available to sign Higgins to an extension, but they also have well-positioned draft picks that could be traded to seal the deal.

If it comes down to it, that could be the biggest factor in determining where Higgins will be traded, making the Patriots the front runners to acquire him and giving Drake Maye one of the most impressive weapons possible to work with for the foreseeable future.