(11-30-2021, 10:39 PM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote:

(11-30-2021, 09:49 PM)Bullseye Wrote: (Emphasis added)

While I like the thought of Higgins as a Jaguar, I join the consensus opinion that there is no way the Bengals would trade him at this point.  The foursome of Burrow, Chase, Higgins and Boyd gives the Bengals their best passing attack since 2005 Palmer, Chad Johnson, TJ Houshmanzadeh, Chris Henry.  (Sub question:  Which group was better, the current group or that 2005 group?)  Their passing attack is why they are leading their division now and are likely to reach the playoffs this year.  Now, the Bengals just need to add to the OL and improve the defense, and they don't need a top five pick to do that.  Trading away Higgins dramatically reduces the effectiveness of that group.  Right now they are close to an elite passing attack.  With another year they will be there.  Trading Higgins away would be a step back from elite status.

IMO, the current group is way better. With that said, they also have two very good receivers (Auden Tate and Stanley Morgan) waiting in the wings. They could step into that 3rd receiver role and Boyd could move to #2 without missing a beat. They also could use one of the draft picks they get from us to add another receiver as well. I wonder what the equivalent would be if we gave them our 2nd round pick and swapped them first rounders? I'd only do that deal if we picked 3rd or lower though. If we have a chance at Aiden Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux, we gotta take one of them, but outside of those two, I'd wanna trade down anyway.

I don't know if I agree with your "way better" description of the current group over the 2005 group.  I think that 2005 group was amazing.  But if your characterization is true, the Bengals have even less incentive to break them up by trading Higgins.  If they are way better, they are elite or close to it.  That will keep them contending for years.

Unless a QB shoots up the draft boards, I don't see a trade back while remaining in the top ten, nor do I see many teams in the teens or below willing to pay a huge price to move up.

---