2024 NFL Draft - Will Tee Higgins or Brandon Aiyuk be Traded on Draft Night?

Quincy Milton III looks at the contract stalemate for both Tee Higgins and Brandon Aiyuk and their prospects of being traded on the night of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Tee Higgins and Brandon Aiyuk are two high-profile wide receivers entering the final season of their contracts. Each one wants to get paid this offseason and deservedly so.

High-end wide receivers, especially those in contract seasons, have been no stranger to trades in recent years. Davante Adams, DJ Moore, and Tyreek Hill all come to mind.

Both Higgins and Aiyuk would command handsome compensation if traded. The depth at wide receiver in the 2024 draft could deter teams from trading for these players while simultaneously encouraging their respective teams to trade them away.

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Tee Higgins

Tee Higgins has lived in the shadow of Ja'Marr Chase for years, but he is an excellent wide receiver. 75% of the NFL would be lucky to have Higgins as their No. 1. Higgins has already requested a trade, and the Bengals extended Joe Burrow in 2023, which means that they will start to lose other good pieces on the roster. Chase is also due for an extension amid an exploding receiver market.

The Bengals could look to trade Higgins and replace him in the first or second round with one of the many excellent receivers in the draft or a pass-catcher such as TE Brock Bowers.

The most wide receiver-needy teams in the NFL include the Steelers, Panthers, Cardinals, Bills, and Chargers. Could you imagine Josh Allen slinging it to Higgins down the sideline? That would be fantasy football gold.

A trade may be tricky given the Bengals’ likely hefty asking price and the depth at the position in the draft. Higgins has said he anticipates returning to the Bengals in 2024, but do not be surprised if he is in a different uniform this coming year.

Franchise-tagged WR Tee Higgins says he expects to play for Cincinnati this year.
pic.twitter.com/Scfie3unoQ

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) April 14, 2024

Brandon Aiyuk

Brandon Aiyuk has come alive the past two seasons, amassing 2,357 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Aiyuk is an excellent deep threat and was a model of efficiency in 2023, gaining 1,342 yards on only 75 receptions.

Despite Aiyuk’s apparent displeasure with no contract extension, the 49ers have shown no indication of trading him. In fact, 49ers GM John Lynch has gone on record to say that this team does not anticipate trading Aiyuk.

Due to the 49ers' hefty payroll and the looming extension for Brock Purdy, do not be surprised if Aiyuk hits free agency in 2025. However, all signs point to Aiyuk playing 2024 under his fifth-year option in San Francisco.

John Lynch on Brandon Aiyuk. pic.twitter.com/5IzgXE3uJM

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) April 22, 2024

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