According to NFL Insider Jason LaCanfora, the Patriots “really want” to sign free agent wide receiver Tee Higgins. 

Higgins is an unrestricted free agent and his current team, the Cincinnati Bengals is expected to try and re-sign him. Cincinnati will have stiff competition from several teams including the Patriots, Commanders, Titans, Bears and Raiders among others. 

LaCanfora said that owner Robert Kraft is catching flack for not really spending and would be willing to spend on Higgins.

“Multiple executives I spoke with predicted Higgins will land at least $30 million per season. “I think he’s going to New England,” the first GM said. Patriots owner Robert Kraft “took a lot of s— for not spending any money, rightfully so, and I hear they really want this guy.”

In fairness, the Patriots did try to sign Calvin Ridley last off-season and they tried to trade for Brandon Aiyuk and even offered him an extension. The Patriots failed to do either but to say they did not want to spend money, especially at the receiver position is unfair. They did.

The Patriots need to upgrade at receiver but the question is, where do they want to put their financial resources? If they overpay for Higgins, it will limit what they do along the offensive line. If they ultimately do not land Higgins, then they could try to sign either Ronnie Stanley or Trey Smith possibly and fortify the offensive.

Trading for a veteran like Cooper Kupp or Deebo Samuel is also an option. 

Either way, it sounds like the Patriots are finally ready to “burn some cash.”