Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins has become somewhat of a forgotten figure in this year’s NFL Draft. He’ll likely be a first round pick but the fifth wide receiver taken off the board. With Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, Henry Ruggs, and Justin Jefferson ahead in the pecking order, it can be easy to overlook how good Higgins was in college. In his final two seasons in college, Higgins caught 59 passes each season for a combined total of 2,103 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also has one career rush which went for a 36-yard touchdown.
Let’s start with the weakness for Higgins as he tries to make his case for being a top pick in the upcoming draft. The 21-year-old Higgins had a very limited route tree in college. That’s not to say that he can’t learn more routes as he transitions to the NFL, but he now finds himself behind the curve compared to the other receivers that will be drafted in the first round. Another knock on Higgins is that he has had a lot of trouble with physicality, especially at the top of his routes. It will be interesting to see how this will translate to stronger and quicker cornerbacks in the NFL.
Throughout his playing career, Higgins has made up for these weaknesses with deceptive speed and an uncanny knack for adjusting to the ball in the air. He has used his height to create separation and become a legitimate threat on every jump ball thrown his way. This should become very evident for his team if they use him as a goal line threat. Most scouts expect Higgins to be drafted in the first round, but there is a chance that he could slip to the early part of the second round. If that happens, there is a team that will be getting a steal like the Bears got when they drafted Alshon Jeffrey in the middle of the second round in 2012.
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 216lbs
Arms: 34 1/8″
Hands: 9 1/4″
40-Yard Time: did not participate
Vertical: did not participate
Potential Landing Spots: Eagles, Vikings, Packers, Jets