The Steelers are facing a major offseason. After yet another lackluster season, fans are hoping for some major changes to get this franchise back on the right track. With a likely historical amount of cap space, there should be plenty of ammo for this team to add some big-name new faces.
While there is no guarantee that he will make it to free agency, the team would be stupid not to call Tee Higgins as soon as the negotiation period opened up. The second target from Joe Burrow on the Bengals, Higgins is set to receive a massive payday this summer, and the Steelers need to be suitors.
While the Steelers have their own top guy in George Pickens, the receiver room faltered down the stretch. The hope of winning with just Pickens fell apart. When he was injured, the passing game disappeared, and even when healthy at times, this team needed a second receiver.
Higgins would be a massive upgrade in this room. Beyond that though, he would give the team a lot of security and options for the year. It would be an uncharacteristic move for the Steelers, but a welcome change for a team that has struggled to stay relevant recently.
Why Tee Higgins to the Steelers is a must
With the team currently lacking a franchise quarterback, there is a lot of cap space to work with. Even if the quarterback room gets more expensive in 2025, it won’t be the cap-crippler that it is for so many teams.
That means you can afford some bigger-name free agents and spend more aggressively. While we saw the largest free agent contract in team history go to Patrick Queen last offseason, it would pale in comparison to what Higgins is set to earn. If you want to return to a competitive state though, you need to change the way you do business.
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Realistically, you could sign both Higgins and extend Pickens if you intend to keep both receivers around. On the other side of things, you could also trade Pickens if you are fed up with his antics and roll with Higgins as your defacto top option.
What you can’t have happen is plan on trading Pickens with no plan to replace him. We saw just how dead in the water this passing game was when he was injured. Going into next season without him and no plan to replace him is a recipe for disaster. While you could get an older veteran in free agency for less, Higgins gives you that true top-receiving threat.
Assuming the Bengals can’t get a deal done and he becomes a free agent, the Steelers need to be the first team on the phone with Higgins. Not only that, but they need to be prepared with a competitive offer that breaks some of their precedents on contracts. It is that important to try and land him this offseason.