Cincinnati Bengals Can't Let Tee Higgins Get to Free AgencyCINCINNATI — Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is a month away from becoming a free agent. He'll certainly have plenty of suitors if he does make it to free agency.

It’s hard to fill top needs in free agency since teams historically don’t let important players at important positions hit the open market. The Patriots have found that out the hard way. This year, it’s expected that top receiver Tee Higgins will once again be franchise-tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals.

The New England Patriots could desperately use a star wide receiver, and they are expected to be in the market for landing one this offseason. Most expected Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins to be the primary target for the Patriots,

While the Cincinnati Bengals may very well exercise the franchise tag on star wide receiver Tee Higgins for the second offseason in a row, a trade to the New England Patriots is not out of the realm of possibility either.

The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to franchise tag Tee Higgins, hurting the New England Patriots chances of signing their top free agent target. Higgins and the Patriots have been linked over the past few years, but until he hits free agency, there isn't much New England can do.

If Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals isn't available in the offseason, the New England Patriots face tough decisions about their receiving corps.