Jacksonville Jaguars dubbed hot landing spot for 2 big-name receivers

The Jacksonville Jaguars have yet to find a replacement for receiver Calvin Ridley. Maybe they'll get him in the NFL Draft but they could also take a look at the open market or explore a trade with another team. Adam Wells of Bleacher Report believes there are a couple wideouts who could help the Jags fill the void.

Wells included Jacksonville on his list of potential landing spots for Odell Beckham Jr. and Tee Higgins, arguing that the Jags haven't done enough to help Trevor Lawrence succeed.

"The Jaguars have missed the window to take full advantage of Lawrence's rookie contract. He's going into his fourth season and eligible to sign a long-term extension this offseason.

Since the organization can't look back on these past three years for what they didn't do, they need to move forward by giving Lawrence a difference-making wide receiver."

Beckham is a free agent, so the Jaguars could sign him at any time. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens last year after sitting out the 2022 season while recovering from an ACL tear. It took him a while to hit his stride, but he finished the year strong, hauling in 15 receptions for 307 yards and one touchdown. While he's not the same dynamic receiver he was early in his career, he could most definitely carve a niche on the Jaguars' offense.

On the other hand, trading for Tee Higgins would be significant. A second-round pick in 2020 by the Cincinnati Bengals, the former Clemson Tiger quickly became a trusted target for Joe Burrow. Even after the arrival of Ja'Marr Chase, Higgins remained an important part of the offense. In fact, he crossed the 1,000-yard mark in 2021-2022.

Injuries hampered Higgin's production in 2023 but he would've been a hot commodity in the open market if he had become a free agent. While he wanted a get a long-term deal, Cincy prevented him from leaving with the franchise tag. He wasn't pleased with the decision and wasted no time requesting a trade.

The Jaguars could use either Beckham or Tee Higgins

Wide receiver remains a need for the Jacksonville Jaguars, so signing Odell Beckham or trading for Tee Higgins could be legitimate options. That said, bringing either one in would have their own pros and cons.

Beckham proved last season that he can still play but it's uncertain how much gas he has left. He's more than a year removed from the ACL tear he suffered in the Super Bowl and grew more comfortable as 2023 progressed, so his health should not be an issue. However, he would probably have more of a complementary role with the Jags.

With Christian Kirk lining up in the slot and Gabe Davis playing an X-receiver role, Beckham would be the third or fourth receiver on the depth chart. It's uncertain if he would be open to having that kind of role. The advantage of signing OBJ is that it would give the front office the flexibility to address other positions (cornerback, pass rush) early in the draft. Also, it won't probably be cost-prohibitive. The same can't be said about potentially trading for Higgins.

If the Jaguars wanted to acquire Higgins, they would need to compensate the Bengals and give him a new deal. Then again, they reportedly inquired about San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, so they may be open to trading for Higgins. They only lost interest because the 49ers' asking price was excessive (the No. 17 pick and Zay Jones).

From an outside perspective, it's hard to tell what kind of compensation the Bengals would want in exchange for Higgins. Maybe a second-round pick and a fourth could get a deal done. That seems a reasonable price in light of the Stefon Diggs trade. It's also worth noting that Jacksonville was ready to pay Calvin Ridley before he left, so they may not be totally opposed to giving Higgins a long-term contract.

The bottom line is that Beckham and Higgins could most definitely help the Jaguars. The Texans are loading up on talent to have a shot at repeating as AFC South champions. Maybe Jacksonville should the same to increase their chances of dethroning them next season.

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