Joe Sargent/Getty ImagesCleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson made a public plea Friday for wide receiver Tee Higgins to sign with the Browns in free agency.
During an appearance on Lockerverse's QB Unplugged, Watson made his pitch to the star wideout:
MoreForYouCleveland @MoreForYou_CLEBengals fans won't like this, but <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Browns?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Browns</a> QB Deshaun Watson openly advocated for the team to sign soon to be free agent WR Tee Higgins today on their podcast⬇️⬇️<br><br>(🎥 via: <a href="https://twitter.com/Lockerverse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Lockerverse</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/deshaunwatson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@deshaunwatson</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/QuincyAvery?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QuincyAvery</a>) <a href="https://t.co/t4KjpnUvsf">pic.twitter.com/t4KjpnUvsf</a>
Watson said the Browns want to throw the ball and are going to "pass it a lot," and added that Browns fans are going to "take care" of Higgins and show him love if he signs with them.
Also, Watson mentioned that he and Higgins have "Clemson ties," as they both attended the school, although they never played together.
Higgins was the first pick of the second round in the 2020 NFL draft, and he quickly developed into arguably the best No. 2 receiver in the NFL.
After recording 908 yards as a rookie, Higgins had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022 as quarterback Joe Burrow's second-favorite target behind Ja'Marr Chase.
Higgins had nearly identical years in 2021 and 2022, racking up 74 receptions for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns, followed by 74 catches for 1,029 yards and seven scores.
This season was the most trying year of Higgins' NFL career thus far, as he missed five games due to injury and was limited in others. Also, Burrow missed the team's final seven games.
That resulted in Higgins setting career lows across the board with 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns.
Even so, 25-year-old Higgins figures to be one of the hottest commodities on the free-agent market among receivers, assuming the Bengals don't re-sign or franchise him.
While Higgins signing with the Browns would make him an enemy in Cincinnati, there are several reasons why Cleveland could be a great landing spot.
For starters, Higgins would get to play across from Amari Cooper, which would give the Browns one of the NFL's best wide receiver duos.
He would also have a talented quarterback in Deshaun Watson throwing him the ball, an elite running back in Nick Chubb to take some pressure off, and one of the NFL's best defenses, although Watson and Chubb missed significant time due to injury in 2023.
Despite the Browns' injury issues, they went 11-6 and made the playoffs, so if they are healthier and add Higgins, they could be a major threat in 2024.
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