Chicago Bears: Ranking realistic wide receiver trade targets

1. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

Without a doubt, the top potential trade target for the Bears is Tee Higgins. He turns just 24 years old today and remains on his rookie deal.

So, why would the Bengals opt to trade him?

Cincinnati is going to be in a tough spot, cap-wise, pretty soon. They have a decision to make this offseason on guys like Jessie Bates, Vonn Bell, Max Scharping, Eli Apple, Hayden Hurst, among others. But, they’re also going to have to pay two very important players shortly: Quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

With Higgins’ ceiling not even being reached yet, and his talent level even surpassing what he’s been able to produce alongside talent like Chase and Tyler Boyd, he’ll command a hefty contract. But, Chase is likely going to be the guy paid over Higgins, so long as Cincinnati doesn’t find a way to pay them both.

Higgins can do it all. He can line up anywhere. He doesn’t really have a weakness. In three seasons as a pro, Higgins has caught 215 passes for 3,028 yards and 19 touchdowns, and that’s while sharing the field with Chase for two of those years.

This is a guy who could be an alpha wide receiver for the Bears, no question. If Chicago could figure out a way to land Higgins this offseason, they’d be setting Justin Fields and the organization up for long-term success.