It's no secret that the Los Angeles Chargers need to add help at the wide receiver position this offseason. One of the best free-agent wide receivers this offseason will be Cincinnati Bengals wideout Tee Higgins, who Chargers fans think Derwin James might be doing his best to recruit to Los Angeles.
Following the Chargers' seven-point win over the Bengals, James and Higgins swapped jerseys, which raised some eye brows amongst the Bolt fanbase. One user on X even called out the Chargers safety, noting "I see what you're doing Derwin" and posting a picture of James and Higgins together with their newly-signed jerseys.
It's been the worst kept secret that the Bengals are more than likely going to let Higgins walk in free agency this offseason but it's not for lack of talent. Higgins has been in the league since 2020 and put together two 1,000+ yard seasons with the Bengals and came close to doing so as a rookie as well with 908 yards (and that's without having Joe Burrow for the last six games of that season).
The reason the Bengals are likely done with Higgins is that they've already paid Burrow a lot of money and still need to pay Ja'Marr Chase. That leaves Higgins as the odd man out because paying a quarterback and two receivers just isn't a smart business decision. It hasn't helped Higgins' case that he's been banged up a lot over the last couple of seasons, missing five games so far this year and five games in 2023.
That being said, if James wants to recruit Higgins to LA, fans aren't going to complain. Like I said, he's been a stud for the Bengals when healthy and the Chargers could use a wide receiver with his talent-level on their roster. Imagine Higgins, Ladd McConkey, and a newly-energized Quentin Johnston as Justin Herbert's main weapons. That's a pretty scary group right there.
Chargers fans should have no problem with Derwin James potentially recruiting Tee Higgins
It might be harder to convince Higgins to come to LA if the Chargers had struggled this year but that hasn't been the case. The Bolts have been one of the more surprising teams in 2024 and currently sit as the five-seed in the playoff picture with a 90% chance of making the postseason after their win over Higgins' Bengals.
With Jim Harbaugh turning this team around quickly, Herbert as the franchise quarterback, and what looks to be a defense that can continue to be dominant in 2025 and beyond, there are a lot worse situations for Higgins to consider when it comes to deciding his next team. Let's hope James put a good word in for Los Angeles and upped the Chargers' chances of landing Tee Higgins in the offseason.