20/20: Tee Higgins
Welcome to the 20/20 series. As part of our continued Dynasty Scouts coverage and in preparation for the NFL Combine, we profile 20 of the top incoming rookies of the class of 2020 by giving you 20 facts you must know.
1.) Player name – Tee Higgins
2.) College – Clemson Tigers
3.) Height/Weight – 6’4’’, 200 lbs
4.) Birthdate – 1/18/1999 (21)
5.) Class – Junior
6.) Basic college stats:
Courtesy of sports-reference.com.
7.) NFL Draft round projection – There’s a very good chance that we see Higgins drafted in the first round. At worst, he could fall into the early part of the second round. He’s one of the top receivers in the draft, and it’s going to be very hard for the NFL to undervalue him. He would have to fail the combine or take part in some off-field drama for his draft stock to drop. He’s a stud prospect and he’s going to command top-shelf draft capital.
8.) Current NFL comparison – He draws some comparisons to Allen Robinson and maybe Dez Bryant due to his strong hands and his ability to post up on guys at the catch point. Like the two previously mentioned receivers, he isn’t going to blow you away with athleticism, but he will bully defenders at the catch point. Like Robinson and Bryant, he can make highlight-reel plays while contested because he’s immaculate at extending his arms and reeling in the catch with his hands.
9.) Best possible destination – Philadelphia would be a great landing spot for him. The team is in desperate need of a stud wide receiver to take ownership of the offense. They drafted JJ Arcega-Whiteside last year, but he profiles as more of a role player. Alshon Jeffery turns 30 years old this month and will be a cut candidate at the end of the 2020 season.
The WR1 spot is open for the taking in this offense. The Eagles are projected in many mock drafts to select a wide receiver with their first-round pick. Philadelphia is a very realistic destination for Higgins.
10.) Worst possible destination – There aren’t very many bad landing spots for Higgins. He’s a very good prospect. Situations like Tampa Bay where he has to compete for targets against two or more good wide receivers will limit his upside. In this example, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin would cannibalize a large portion of the targets, leaving crumbs for Higgins and the rest of the receivers. Over time, he would be able to steal some of the target share, but his potential wouldn’t be maximized in a situation where he’s not being fed a healthy dose of targets.
11.) Best current skill – Higgins catches just about everything thrown his way. He has really strong hands and attacks the ball while it’s in transit. He does a good job at extending to make catches overhead or out to his side. After the catch, he secures the ball and quickly moves upfield. His hands are about as sticky as they come.
12.) Skill that needs to be improved – Route running isn’t horrendous, but some improvement could a go along way when it comes to tapping his true potential. He’s a little bit stiff getting in and out of breaks. He’s physical, but he can get thrown off his route by stronger defenders. He needs to work with more urgency if he wants to take his game to the next level.
Overall, he’s a decent route runner. He does a good job at getting downfield and using his size to create separation from the defender. If he can develop his game in this department, then he could become one of the best wide receivers in the league.
13.) Past/current rookie ADP – DLF has him slotted with a 9.40 rookie ADP, making him a late first-round pick in rookie drafts. He should hover around this draft position throughout the rookie draft season. If you are drafting early, he’s a relatively safe option. We’re unlikely to see a major drop in value.
14.) Projected dynasty value – Higgins will be selected anywhere from the fourth to sixth round of startup drafts. He should hold his value throughout his rookie season. If he breaks out early, then we will see a drastic rise in value. On the flip side, his floor is going to remain steady during the first couple years of his career.
15.) Recruiting profile – Coming out of high school, Higgins was a five-star recruit. 247Sports ranked him as the 2nd best wide receiver in the 2017 recruiting class behind Donovan Peoples-Jones. His mailbox was constantly full of offer letters. He was heavily recruited by Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and many other schools.
16.) Market Share:
As a 19-year-old sophomore, Higgins broke out with a 22.37 percent market share of Clemson’s passing offense while also producing a 27.40 percent dominator rating. The following year he took things to the next level by commanding a 26.98 percent market share of his team’s passing offense and a 29.74 percent dominator rating.
17.) High school accolades – As a junior he caught 46 passes for 841 yards and 16 touchdowns. He then kicked it into gear his senior season by posting 68 receptions for 1,044 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also had three punt returns that led to three touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball he was able to return an interception for a touchdown. Higgins received the opportunity to play in the Under Armour All-American game. He was named Mr. Football in the state of Tennessee at the 5A level.
18.) Hot Wheels – As a kid, he was an avid Hot Wheels collector. In order to get him to play sports, let alone football, his parents had to bribe him with the toy cars.
19.) Athleticism:
Higgins wasn’t considered an athletic specimen during the recruiting process. Players usually get more athletic during their college years as they develop their bodies into adulthood along with being able to train with world-class strength and conditioning programs.
Although he won’t be the fastest man to grace the NFL Scouting Combine in the next few weeks, Higgins is still fast enough to compete at the next level. He will definitely beat his 4.75 40-yard dash time that he posted a long time ago when he was a youngster. Higgins will post a very intriguing size-adjusted speed score once everything is said and done.
20.) DLF Rookie Ranks – My buddies here at DLF have Higgins ranked as the WR3 in their rooking rankings. Overall, they have him ranked as the sixth player off the board in rookie drafts, valuing him as a mid-first-round draft pick.
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