With the first pick of the second round, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Clemson wideout Tee Higgins to provide Joe Burrow with a new weapon on the outside.
Measurables: 6’4”/216
School: Clemson
2019 Stats: 59 receptions, 1,167 yards, 13 touchdowns
Accolades: 2019 first team All-ACC, 2018 second team All-ACC (AP), 2018 first team All-ACC (ESPN, PFF)
Strengths: Higgins is one of the most talented contested-catch receivers available in this draft. He uses his length and his wingspan to excel at the high-point despite posting lackluster vertical jump measurements, and his game is built around the 6’4” frame that allows for him to succeed on the outside and in the slot. He doesn’t have game-breaking speed, but he can pull away from defenders after an initial hesitation to burn them for big gains. Trevor Lawrence trusted him as a redzone target, often lofting the ball up and letting Higgins do the heavy lifting.
Weaknesses: Unimpressive showing at Clemson’s pro day, when he recorded just a 31-inch vertical jump and 10 foot, three inch broad jump. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein knocks him for a couple things that would indicate a rougher transition into the NFL. For one, his route tree consisted of a lot of deep balls and goal-line fades, which means he may not have too much versatility at the NFL level. Second, he points out that much of his success came against “lesser cornerback competition,” which obviously wouldn’t be the case in the pros.
Player Comparison: Kenny Golladay
Golladay led the NFL in touchdowns with 11 in 2019, due in part to his prowess in the red zone and in part due to his ability to make contested high-point catches. Though he picked up a lot of yardage underneath, the plays that truly allowed Golladay to break out were the ones that showed off his length, height and catch radius. These are skills that Higgins can utilize to take advantage of his frame and perform at a similar level in the NFL.
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