Cleveland Browns: Will a Rashard Higgins deal happen sooner rather than later?

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins is one of the few important free agents for the Browns, but will a deal happen sooner rather than later?

One of the biggest priorities for Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey this off-season will be re-signing restricted free agent Rashard Higgins.

Higgins was a pleasant surprise for the Browns last season, quickly becoming an impactful player for the young Cleveland offense, especially in Freddie Kitchens’ offense.

The 24-year-old wide receiver caught 39 of his 53 targets for 572 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games last season. He missed time in the middle of the season after suffering a knee injury during the Browns’ Week 5 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

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Higgins’ breakout season was helped along by Baker Mayfield becoming the team’s starting quarterback after Week 3 of the regular season. The two built a strong chemistry during training camp in August as both were featured on the second-team offense.

Higgins’ strong play in August helped him shoot up the Browns depth chart. Although he was able to make some plays with Tyrod Taylor as the starting quarterback, Higgins’ play did not hit the next level until Mayfield was the starting signal caller. After already building a solid chemistry, Mayfield could trust Higgins to make plays in tight windows.

Due to their strong trust, it is important for Dorsey and the Browns front office to make sure that Higgins is on the Browns roster for the immediate future. After being cut by former personnel decision maker Sashi Brown at the end of the 2017 preseason, Higgins is set to be a restricted free agent this off-season.

Even though he is coming off his best season of his three-year career, Higgins does not want to test the open market and see what he is worth. Instead he has made it pretty well known that he wants to be with the Browns, and only the Browns in 2019.

During Super Bowl week, Higgins met with Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot and talked about his pending free agency this off-season.

"“I want to be in Cleveland,” Higgins told cleveland.com Thursday on radio row at Super Bowl LIII. “No other team. Tell (John) Dorsey, Tell Lonzo (Alonso Highsmith) to get it done.’’ – via Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot"

Dorsey mentioned earlier in the off-season that he wants to work out extensions with Higgins, as well as pending free agents Breshad Perriman and Greg Robinson. Dorsey said just a few weeks ago that they are already negotiating with the agents of all three Browns players.

With how badly Higgins wants to stay in Cleveland, it is safe to assume that his deal with the Browns will happen sooner rather than later. Considering that Dorsey has also said this off-season that he wants to see Higgins in a Browns uniform next season, then a deal should be struck in the near future.

It is also important to note that now that the Browns have a franchise quarterback in Mayfield, then they should do whatever possible to keep him happy. Re-signing Higgins would certainly be something that would make Mayfield happy.