Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Los Angeles Chargers Linked To Star Wide Receiver On NFL Trade Block

Originally posted on LAFB Network | By Vincent Frank | Last updated 5/21/24

New Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz spent the early part of this offseason remaking their wide receiver room.

Los Angeles’ decision to release Mike Williams didn’t come as too much of a surprise. His contract was not team-friendly. He was also coming off a 2023 campaign in which the former first-round pick missed all but three games to a torn ACL.

The trade of franchise legend Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears earlier in the spring was a much bigger surprise. Allen and the Chargers failed to come to terms on a renegotiated contract, leading them to trading him after 11 uber successful seasons in Southern California.

This created a gaping hole (be mature about that statement) at wide receiver in Los Angeles. The Chargers are expecting big things from 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston at wide receiver. They also added DJ Chark in free agency and utilized a second-round pick on an impressive Ladd McConkey. But there is still a need here for quarterback Justin Herbert and Co.

Los Angeles Chargers Linked To Tee Higgins On NFL Trade Block

That brings us to our overriding point of this article. In a recent piece, ESPN linked Higgins to the Chargers as a potential trade target.

Higgins, 25, had the franchise tag placed on him earlier this offseason. He’s now set to hold out from OTAs with the Cincinnati Bengals. The former Clemson star had requested a trade earlier in the spring. In short, he wants to be paid big time.

The wide receiver recorded a mere 42 receptions for 656 yards wih five touchdowns his past season in Cincinnati.

Though, he has proven to be reliable in the not-so-distant past. From 2020-22 with the Bengals, Higgins registered 215 receptions for 3,028 yards and 19 touchdowns. He’s since been impacted by the presence of Ja’Marr Chase in Cincinnati.

For Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers, the idea of adding Higgins to the mix makes sense. It’s going to be all about what Cincinnati is demanding in return and Higgins’ contract demands.

This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.

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