A trade for Tee Higgins would help out Kansas City’s quarterback immensely

The Chiefs are 5-0, and they’ve gotten there thanks to some tight wins and some grit from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. But there is no doubt that the defending champs are working with an offense that is subpar, at best, and badly needs playmakers to take some of the burden off Mahomes.

In case you’ve missed the Chiefs’ current injury rap sheet: Running back Isiah Pacheco is out indefinitely after having fibula surgery, star receiver Rashee Rice is probably out for the year with a knee injury and free-agent signee Hollywood Brown will miss the regular season with a shoulder injury.

There’s more, of course, but those are the relevant playmakers whose absence is helping to bog down Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. Mahomes has 1,235 passing yards this year but only six touchdowns and a league-high six interceptions.

Oct 7, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) watches the replay board against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

With that in mind, Bleacher Report suggests, in its latest “NFL Trade Block Big Board,” that the Chiefs would be a sensible suitor for Bengals star Tee Higgins, if Cincinnati continues to disappoint after a surprising 1-4 start.

Wrote Kristopher Knox of B/R: “If the Bengals continue to blow games, however, Higgins would be a logical trade commodity because he’s set to be a free agent in the spring.

“Higgins is a high-end No. 2 receiver who should draw a fair return, even in a market that could be flooded with receiver talent. Logical suitors include the Kansas City Chiefs, who recently placed Rashee Rice on injured reserve, and the Dallas Cowboys.”

Higgins is a talented wideout whose numbers have been limited because he plays alongside star WR1 Ja’Marr Chase. Still, Higgins was a 1,000-yard receiver in both 2021 and 2022 before he was limited last year by injuries.

The Chiefs are expected to investigate the wide receiver trade market ahead of the Nov. 5 NFL trade deadline, but are not among the teams pushing for Raiders star Davante Adams.

Higgins is only 25 and has more upside than Adams, but he is also more expensive, having gotten a franchise-tag deal from the Bengals ($21 million) for this season. He is projected to warrant a five-year, $99 million contract by the contract website Spotrac in free agency next season.