This Giants-Bengals trade proposal sends Tee Higgins to New York

The New York Giants have turned things around quickly under the new regime of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. Both came over to Big Blue from the Buffalo Bills during the 2022 offseason and quickly began undoing all of the mistakes of the past regime.

In Year 1, the Giants shockingly made the playoffs, going 9-7-1 and earning a Wild Card spot. They even won a playoff game on the road against the Minnesota Vikings before getting steamrolled the following week by the Philadelphia Eagles.

This offseason, Schoen did a good job of continuing to plug holes on the roster and close the gap between the Giants and the upper-echelon teams in the NFL. On paper, this team has been improved, especially when it comes to the weapons around Daniel Jones.

The Giants acquired tight end Darren Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders earlier in the offseason before signing wide receivers Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder in free agency. A third-round pick was used on Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt as well.

Those additions will help diversify the Giants’ passing attack, adding some much-needed athleticism and playmaking. But, this offense is still missing a true No. 1 wide receiver, which Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report addressed in a recent piece.

Ballentine has suggested that the Giants make a trade for Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver, Tee Higgins. While Bengals general manager Duke Tobin has shot down the notion of trading Higgins, it is something that needs to be considered.

With mega extensions on the horizon for Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins could be the odd man out long-term. A trade could be what is best for the franchise, giving them a chance to restock around Burrow and Chase.

What could a deal between the Giants and Bengals look like? Ballentine suggested that New York offers a 2024 first and third-round pick along with a 2025 third-round pick in exchange for Higgins.

That offer is right in line with what other top wide receivers in the NFL have drawn in trades in recent seasons. Higgins is seen as the No. 2 in Cincinnati but he is a star and a No. 1 receiver in his own right. 

He would give Jones a true go-to, No. 1 receiver, the only thing that this passing offense is missing. Adding a player of that caliber to this offensive attack would enable Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka to really open things up aerially.