5 hours Ago By Doug Kyed
INDIANAPOLIS — With veteran wide receiver Tee Higgins likely returning to the Bengals, the Patriots’ next-best option to add a field-stretching wide receiver with a wide catch radius could come through the draft.The Bengals have stated their preference of re-signing Higgins on a long-term deal, but if the two parties can’t reach an agreement, Cincinnati will reportedly franchise the free-agent wideout.Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, however, comes with a similar skill set at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds.
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4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on McMillan would likely be too rich, but he’s a potential target if the Patriots receive an attractive offer to trade down from the top five.McMillan is considered the top wide receiver in the draft outside of Colorado’s Travis Hunter, who also doubles as the top cornerback prospect. The Arizona product caught 84 passes for 1,319 yards with eight touchdowns in 2024.
He was even more productive as a sophomore in 2023 with 90 catches for 1,402 yards with 10 touchdowns.“I feel like people look at me as a big receiver, which I am — I’m physically dominant — but at the end of the day, I’m able to run every route in the route tree, I’m able to play inside or outside. And I feel like a lot of people, a lot of teams, are sleeping on that right now.
”The Patriots need an upgrade overall at wide receiver, where they currently have Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker on the 90-man roster, but a potential “X” wide receiver like McMillan is especially hard to come by.McMillan listed Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen as the NFL’s top quarterbacks, but noted it would be nice to play with a young passer.“You want to have a quarterback that you can be with for a long time,” McMillan said.
The Patriots have that in Drake Maye, the 2024 fourth overall pick. Sources around the NFL have raved about Maye at the combine, and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said this week that the young QB could attract free agents..
