There are years when Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins would have been a sure-fire first-round pick.
This season?
Higgins could drop all the way to the third round – and it has nothing to do with his play on the field. Rather, it has everything to do with the loaded WR class.
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The 2020 WR Class: A Fanspeak Series
Part I: A look back at the historic 2019 DL class
Part 2: Examining the 2017 pass rusher class
Part 3: Why teams miss despite quality at a position
Part 4: OT, CB, RB and Edge also has depth in the draft
Part 5: What does the talent at that position mean for your team?
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While Higgins (6-foot-4, 215) is generally seen as a late-first, early second-rounder, beauty remains in the eye of the beholder, writes Charlie Campbell in his latest Walter Football Hot Press report.
“One NFC general manager said they had Higgins as a late second- or early third-round pick due to liking 8-10 receiver prospects over him. That speaks to how loaded the 2020 NFL Draft is at wide receiver,” Campbell writes.
— Tee Higgins⁵ (@teehiggins5) July 25, 2017
Higgins finished the regular season with 52 receptions for 1,082 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns while earning First-Team All-ACC honors. Of those 13 TDs, 10 game in Higgins’ final five entering Saturday’s game against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.
The Walter Football report included opinions from several NFL team sources, who lauded Higgins’ size, length and ball skills while pointing out that he needs to test well in the 40.
“He’s got stick hands but does his work outside the numbers,” said one director of college scouting, via Walter Football. “Volleyball style production, so his (timed) speed will definitely matter. He’s not an assertive tough-guy type between the numbers.”