CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
TEE HIGGINS
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-4
215 pounds
21 years old
BIG PICTURE
A Tennessee native, multi-sport star and four-star football recruit, Tee Higgins improved each season at Clemson is a possible first-round pick in the upcoming draft. Combined for over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdown receptions his last two seasons catching balls from Trevor Lawrence. A deep-ball machine with some of the best downfield production of any wideout. Plays primarily on the outside. With arguably the best mix of size and skill of any upper-tier receiver in the draft, Higgins is only missing a 40 time to complete his resume after he skipped drills at the combine.
COMBINE NOTABLES
DNP
VIKINGS COMPATIBILITY RANKING
4 out of 5. Want a big receiver? Higgins could be your guy. The Clemson product might be off the board in the top 15 many other years, but in 2020’s class he could be readily available for the Vikings at 22 or 25.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Long, angular frame with cheat-code body control and ball skills when attacking downfield. Higgins is leggy getting off of the press, but those same leggy strides are weapons of separation that help create big plays. He’s played all three receiver spots and can be moved around to match up against cornerbacks. His size and “above the rim” talent make him a uniquely dangerous playmaker deep and in the red zone. The transition to NFL press corners will be an early challenge that could take some time to solve, but he’s an instinctive ball-winner whose traits should win out and make him a very good NFL starter.”
Benjamin Solak, Draft Network: “Tee Higgins is a Day 2 candidate for teams looking for a downfield, contested catch threat to win against man coverage. Higgins is an average route-runner who won with size and length at the collegiate level, but is not as effective against physicality as a man his size should be, and must find savvier ways to win at the NFL level in order to consistently release off the line of scrimmage. If Higgins is unable to develop his hand usage and technique on his releases, his lack of quality burst or long speed will relegate him to boom/bust usage from the Z-alignment on nines, posts, and back-shoulder fades. Higgins’ ability to adjust to the football and secure contested balls while elevated at the extent of his considerable frame is an elite trait, and gives him a high floor at the NFL level, but considerable work is needed for him to become a true WR1. Higgins’ best outlook is that of a WR2 who provides the downfield foil to a three-level WR1 who wins by generating separation.”
WHAT PFF SAYS
Top 10 graded receiver last two seasons
90+ PFF grade over two years again tight coverage
565 deep yards last year (8th)
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
