LA Chargers yearned for wide receiver help after watching the Bolts struggle to do anything offensively in the AFC Wild Card Round against the Houston Texans. The Philadelphia Eagles' success in the trenches changed the narrative some but the fact remains the Chargers need wideout help.
Luckily for the Bolts, there is a long list of potential star receivers the team can add this offseason. Whether it be via free agency or via trade, there are several directions for the Chargers to take this offseason.
Topping the list of wide receivers the Chargers could sign is none other than Cincinnati Bengals' wideout Tee Higgins. Higgins is a free agent for the first time in his career and would add the dynamic wide receiver presence the Bolts so desperately need alongside Ladd McConkey.
The Chargers have the cap space to sign Higgins ($63.4 million in projected cap to be exact) and they certainly should be an intriguing destination for the wideout. However, the Chargers may never even get the chance to pursue Higgins as the Bengals have the ability to franchise tag the young star wideout.
The idea of Cincinnati tagging Higgins has picked up steam in recent days and the Chargers will soon know whether or not the team has a chance to sign him. The franchise tag window officially opens on February 18 with the deadline being set for March 4.
Chargers will soon know if Bengals are franchise tagging Tee Higgins
It isn't uncommon for franchise tags to happen closer to the deadline as teams are typically in no rush to deliver bad news to particular players. That being said, the Chargers may theoretically know in less than a week if the team can even pursue Higgins.
Cincinnati would pay Higgins just over $21 million in fully guaranteed money if the team franchise tags him this offseason. This would be quite the pay cut for Higgins, who may get as high as a four-year deal worth $120 million in the open market.
That is a lofty price tag but is one that would be worth it for the Chargers. The Chargers have total cap flexibility over the next four years and desperately need to add another top-tier wideout while Ladd McConkey is on his rookie deal.
That may not seem like the ideal way to build a roster after watching the Eagles dominate the trenches in the Super Bowl. However, even the Eagles are paying top-tier wide receiver money to AJ Brown. Spending big on an impactful wide receiver is not a bad move to make.
Hopefully, the Chargers will at least have a chance to spend big on Higgins this offseason. The team will soon know whether or not that is a real possibility in the not-so-distant future.