That potential draft scenario played out in the first mock draft from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. With the 17th pick, the Bengals select Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.

Higgins is on many teams' wishlists while B.J. Hill, Mike Hilton and Mike Gesicki are among those who will generate interest.

Duke Tobin has made definitive proclamations on Tee Higgins during each of the past two winters. The de facto Bengals GM declared his No. 2 wide receiver unavailable in trades at the 2023 Combine and then franchise-tagged him last year. Barring a second franchise tag, Higgins is poised to hit the market.