Tag: Tee Higgins

2020 NFL Draft: Bills take 5th receiver in latest PFF mock

Buffalo Bills take WR Tee Higgins in Pro Football Focus’ latest mock draft.

The Buffalo Bills do something they do in a lot of mocks leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft in Pro Football Focus this week: they select Clemson receiver Tee Higgins.

But there’s plenty of positional drama.

On Higgins alone, he fits the bill for the Bills. A big-bodied playmaker for quarterback Josh Allen who complements the targets already on the team. PFF predicts Higgins surprising at the upcoming combine as well:

Higgins should surprise some NFL talent evaluators with his straight-line speed at the Combine. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Clemson product is coveted for his ball skills and contested-catch ability, but don’t let his size convince you that he’s a slow mover. He is currently PFF’s fifth-ranked receiver and the 25th-best overall player in the class.

But before Higgins goes to the Bills at No. 22, the intrigue comes much earlier. At pick No. 4, the Giants take the first receiver off the board in Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy. The consensus second-best wideout in the draft at this point of the pre-draft process, CeeDee Lamb, then re-connects with his college teammate from Oklahoma, QB Kyler Murray, with the Cardinals.

The interesting hits keep on coming, as the Raiders then take Colorado’s Laviska Shenault at No. 12, ahead of Alabama’s Henry Ruggs, who goes No. 15 to the Broncos. Doing all that math, the next receiver selected is Higgins to the Bills.

At April’s draft, the Bills could still be in the running for a wide reciever, but one should’t be surprised if such a scenario plays out. Buffalo might have to settle for the fifth or sixth receiver off the board at pick No. 22 and such a scenario could cause the Bills to consider selecting another position all together.

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NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah says Bills can wait to draft receiver

What NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said about the Buffalo Bills drafting at wide receiver at the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Buffalo Bills can wait to select a wide receiver at the 2020 NFL Draft, says NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah.

Chatting to other media members on a conference call on Friday, the draft analyst, when discussing the Bills, said it’s not a bad idea for them to wait for an offensive playmaker at the upcoming draft.

“They can wait until the third round if they wanted to and still find guys to come in and help them this year. It’s so deep, so loaded. And I think that offense is another one that could use this type of a player that we just discussed of guys you can use on some of the, get them some of the bubbles, some of the easy completions, some of the fly sweeps, all that stuff. I think they could find one of these guys outside the first round that would help them there,” Jeremiah said.

“If you look at Buffalo, the direction they could go, I think finding an edge rusher, finding another corner, interior offensive line, that wouldn’t be a bad way to go early; you could always circle back and get yourself a wide receiver,” Jeremiah added.

Of course, if the Bills really, really do want a specific wideout, they should go get him. Jeremiah noted that as well. To his other mentioned needs, pass rusher is certainly among the bigger ones. The Bills could stand to use cornerback depth, but Levi Wallace, an EFRA, will likely be back. On the offensive line, there’s depth, and the Bills will probably add more with at least one of their nine draft picks at the upcoming selection event.

In his most recent mock draft, the Bills do go wide receiver, though. Not exactly any inside thought from Jeremiah, but Tee Higgins is the selection at pick No. 22. He could be the guy the Bills do love, with his big-bodied size and wide catch radius. He could be the perfect complement to the smaller, speedy options the Bills already have in-house.

“The is a really phenomenal group of wideouts,” Jeremiah continued. “And not all of those guys are going to go early. They’re going to end up spread throughout the draft.”

So keep that depth in mind once late April rolls around. If the Bills don’t get a Round 1 receiver, they could land a first-round talent in the second just based on the sheer numbers of it. Plus, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane constantly says during the run up to the draft that he doesn’t pick for needs, he picks for talent. Free agency will likely be the time where Beane starts addressing his team’s needs.

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2020 NFL Draft: Daniel Jeremiah breaks down the Eagles WR options at pick No. 21

Daniel Jeremiah breaks down the Eagles WR options at pick No. 21

The NFL Draft season is in full effect and on Friday, one of the biggest names from an analyst standpoint, weighed-in on the prospects and where they could land.

On Friday, former Eagles scout and current NFL Network star Daniel Jeremiah held a conference call previewing the upcoming 2020 NFL Scouting Combine.

During the call, the Eagles were brought up and Jeremiah was asked about the options at wide receiver with pick No. 21 in the first round.

The Eagles need speed and dynamic playmakers on the outside. Jeremiah believes the Eagles have a shot at some good players, but not necessarily the two players they covet.

“Well, they could use all different styles of receivers, when you talk about getting a Z or an X slot. Like, I think they would prefer to have the speed, which is Jerry Jeudy. I don’t anticipate that — not Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs. Jeudy will be long gone. I assume that Henry Ruggs will be long gone as well.”

When the topic of LSU star Justin Jefferson was broached by Jeremiah, he compared the Tigers star to the Chargers Keenan Allen.

“But I think Justin Jefferson has got a chance to be a high, high volume slot receiver a lot like Keenan Allen, can fill that role, can work in traffic. He’s really good down in the red zone. He led the — he led this entire draft class with touchdowns down in the red zone this year at 12. So, he’s a point producer and he would be a great fit for them.”

Jeremiah went on to discuss Arizona State star Brandon Aiyuk as a great fit for the Eagles as well.

Raiders select Clemson WR Tee Higgins at No. 12 in latest Bleacher Report mock

Raiders select Clemson WR Tee Higgins at No. 12 in latest Bleacher Report mock

If you’ve been following any of the mock drafts over the last two months, then you know which receivers are typically given to the Raiders at No. 12; Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb and Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy. However, there is another name that needs to be considered at that spot; Clemson’s Tee Higgins.

In a recent mock draft by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, the Raiders grabbed Higgins at No. 12 after Jeudy and Lamb were selected inside of the top-10. While it may feel a tad early for Higgins, there is a decent chance he won’t be available when the Raiders pick again the first round.

Higgins is one of the biggest receivers in this draft class as he was listed at 6’4, 216 pounds. While his size suggests he’s just a possession receiver, that is far from the truth. In 2019, Higgins averaged nearly 20 yards per reception for the Tigers. He caught an incredible 73.8 percent of his targets and scored 25 touchdowns over the last two seasons.

In his recently debuted prospect rankings, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Higgins to A.J. Green of the Bengals and graded him as one of the best wide receiver prospects in this class. Take a look at Zierlein’s thoughts on Higgins entering the NFL:

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.

While Higgins might not have the same speed and quickness as Green, their games are somewhat similar as they both can win anywhere on the field. If the Raiders are looking to add more size to their wide receiver corps to pair with Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow, Higgins might be one of the best options in the first round.

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4 reasons why the Bills should ultimately pass on AJ Green

While Buffalo should take a look at Green in the offseason, ultimately, here are four reasons why the Bills should pass on Green moving forward.

The top priority for the Buffalo Bills is to find stronger playmakers on the offensive side of the ball this offseason. The team made strides over the past two years on the offense. However, there is still plenty of room for improvement for Buffalo’s offense. 

The Bills were tied for 23rd in points per game, 26th in passing yards per game, and 24th in touchdown receptions. There’s room for improvement. 

Buffalo is in need of a big, playmaking wide receiver. With this in mind, it’s natural that many would connect the Bills with high-end wide receivers in free agency. One intriguing name has piqued the interest of many following Buffalo is A.J. Green. 

While Green’s tantalizing skill has made him one of the best players at the position in recent years, there are several reasons to be concerned about making a substantial investment in the seven-time Pro-Bowler moving forward. 

While Buffalo could take a look at Green in the offseason, ultimately, here are four reasons why the Bills should pass on Green moving forward:

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green. Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Price tag

Green is coming off a four-year, $60 million dollar extension that he signed in 2015. Even with the deal signed in the middle of the decade, Green’s average yearly salary ranked 11th among receivers in 2019. 

Spotrac views Green’s market value at just over $9 million per season, seeing a two-year, $18.1 million contract as the going rate for the wideout. This compares his contract with Julian Edelman, Emanuel Sanders, Larry Fitzgerald, and DeSean Jackson. Even though these contracts are similar, Green’s arguably the second-best player, next to Fitzgerald, on the list. 

The free agency frenzy drives up the cost of a player. The market value is conservative at this point, as teams will be bidding on the services of Green, Sanders, Amari Cooper, Robby Anderson, and Randall Cobb. 

Fitzgerald signed a one-year extension to remain with Arizona at a cost of $11 million. Green, more explosive and younger than Fitzgerald, will be looking for something bigger than his counterpart’s contract. Thus, a yearly average of $13-15 million is not out of the cards for Green. 

This would place Green as the largest cap hit on Buffalo’s roster. 

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2020 NFL Draft: Eagles land Tee Higgins in pre-combine mock draft from USA Today

Eagles land Tee Higgins in USA Today’s pre-combine mock draft

It’s NFL Combine season and as the experts and analysts continue to break down the prospects, the one constant seems to be the Eagles landing a wide receiver in the first round.

Some experts believe Philadelphia will double-dip at wide receiver during the draft and if that’s the case, then there’s plenty of star power at the position.

The USA Today delivered their first round, pre-combine mock draft, and Tee Higgins had his name pulled out of the hat.

21. Eagles — Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson: Philadelphia’s stagnant deep passing game should be reinvigorated by the addition of a 6-4, 215-pound target who averaged 19.8 yards per catch last year.

Higgins is a player that has been mentioned with the Eagles anytime a mock draft comes up. He went to Clemson, so he’s played in huge games throughout his career.

Higgins can get it done through the air and on the ground as seen here against LSU.

During his final season at Clemson, Higgins snagged 59 passes for 1,167 yards and 13 touchdowns.

At 6-foot-4, 215-pound Higgins would provide the Eagles with a playmaker who has the size of Alshon Jeffery but the big-play ability of DeSean Jackson.

In his final season at Clemson, Higgins averaging 19.8 yards per receptions. I

Add in the lineage and history of Tiger stars in the NFL like DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, and Mike Williams, Higgins should have no problem continuing the strong receiver play in the pros.

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Eagles land elite talent at WR and DB in 4-round mock draft

The Philadelphia Eagles land Gabriel Davis in Draft Wire’s latest 4-round mock draft

It’s NFL Draft season and the next step in the process is the NFL Scouting Combine that starts next Thursday.

The Eagles need speed and playmakers on both sides of the ball and with the deepest class of receivers in NFL draft history, the Birds are likely to snag more than one outside playmaker.

In what could be described as a shocker, the Eagles pass on Colorado star wide receiver Laviska Shenault, Jr. and choose Clemson All-American Tee Higgins at No. 21 in the latest four-round mock draft from Luke Easterling of The Draft Wire.

21. Philadelphia Eagles
Tee Higgins | WR | Clemson
Injuries ravaged Philly’s receiving corps this season and exposed a severe lack of depth. That should be easily remedied this offseason, thanks in large part to an extremely deep class of pass-catchers. Higgins has a rare combination of size, length, ball skills, and body control, and would give Carson Wentz a true No. 1 target.

53. Philadelphia Eagles | Jeff Gladney | CB | TCU

85. Philadelphia Eagles | Ashtyn Davis | S | California

117. Philadelphia Eagles | Gabriel Davis | WR | UCF

Gladney was a four-year starter at TCU and during his junior season, earned first-team all-Big 12 Conference by Pro Football Focus and second-team all-Big 12 by the coaches. During his TCU career, he Gladney recorded five interceptions and was named to the 2020 Senior Bowl roster after his senior season as landed the first-team All-Big 12 honors by the Associated Press.

Davis a safety and return specialist out of Cal Berkely is a former track star and was named first-team All-Pac-12 Conference by the Associated Press, Athlon Sports, and Pro Football Focus and honorable mention by the conference’s coaches.

Davis could be a difference-maker in the NFL and he definitely has a ton of experience.

As a true freshman at UCF in 2017, Davis started all 13 games, recording 27 receptions for 391 yards and four touchdowns. In 2018, he started 12 of 13 games and had 53 receptions for 815 yards and seven touchdowns.

In Davis’ final season at UCF, he racked up 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns on 72 receptions and led the Knights in all three categories.

Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay explore Bills offseason plans

Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay explored Buffalo’s draft plan at this point in the offseason.

With just two weeks until the start of NFL Scouting Combine, the draft hype is just starting to heat up. ESPN’s First Draft Podcast took a look at the future of the Bills and how the team can push its way to the top of the AFC East.

Analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. gave a shoutout to quarterback Josh Allen as the central piece for the Bills success. “They are, and they’re a team that is not going away as long as Allen can play.”  Kiper, who challenged his colleague Todd McShay about his view on Allen, highlighted the quarterback is far from perfect, but the intangibles more than makeup for the sometimes questionable decisions. Kiper added, “The players love him. They’ll go through a wall for this guy on offense and defense. I’ve never seen a team go to bat for their quarterback as much as these guys have.”

Kiper continued, “He [Allen] improved in every category dramatically from his rookie year.” Allen increased his yards passing per game by 20 yards and doubled his touchdown production all while limiting the number of interceptions thrown. This is the growth that the team expected when he was drafted seventh overall in the 2018 draft.

Kiper, Jr. brought it back to how the team can help Allen improve. “One thing that Allen needs is a bigger target. You’ve got Cole Beasley, a really good player, slot guy, and you’ve got John Brown, a really good player.” However, Kiper sees the absence of a big target for Allen. “But when you got to get a mismatch, who are you throwing to?”

Kiper,Jr.  added that the Bills have constructed a deep roster, possible one of the stronger groups in the league. “They got the cornerstone player in Josh [Allen], they got the cornerstone player on defense in [Tremaine] Edmunds, they got a shutdown corner in [Tre’Davious] White, Oliver could be really good along the interior, and they’ve got a lot of nice pieces in place.”

While discussing young quarterbacks in the AFC East, McShay made a plea that New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold has “a chance at being one of the three-or-four best quarterbacks in the league.”

Kiper, Jr.’s response: “I think Josh Allen does as well.”

Buffalo will look to supplement Allen with additional skill players this offseason. Both analysts, while they disagree on Allen, believe wide receiver is a need in the draft.

Kiper, Jr. mentioned all of the top wide receivers as options at the 22nd spot in the draft.  Colorado’s Levisha Shenault and Clemson’s Tee Higgins were options named at this point.

McShay, for his part, shared there will be talent on day two of the draft at the wide receiver position. “Don’t force it the first round” was McShay’s advice. The analyst revealed that if an edge rusher is available at the No. 22 spot, the Bills could wait on the receiver until the second round. McShay shared that Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk, Florida’s Van Jefferson, and USC’s Michael Pittman could be viable options of day two for the Bills.

The NFL Draft Combine takes place from February 24-March 1.

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NFL.com calls WR Tee Higgins ‘must watch’ prospect for Bills

WR Tee Higgins a ‘must watch’ prospect for Buffalo Bills at NFL Scouting Combine.

With the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine en route later this month, NFL.com tabbed one prospect for each team that they have to keep a good eye on during the workouts.

For the Bills, the selection was wide receiver Tee Higgins:

BUFFALO BILLS: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson. The Bills need to score more points, so drafting a receiver early is certainly in play.

Short, sweet and to the point. The Bills had an improved offense in 2019, but they basically just came out of the bottom of the barrel (while the Jets found their way down there). That Bills have to set the bar higher again this offseason to continue their improvement toward NFL legitimacy.

Prior to last year, the Bills added Cole Beasley and John Brown at the receiver position. Both had productive seasons. However, Higgins or another young wideout would provide the Bills with a youthful prospect to grow with quarterback Josh Allen. In addition, it’s well known by now that Higgins has the size at 6-foot-4 that you just can’t teach. He can go up and get passes others just can’t.

Higgins will be in play for selection around the Bills’ first pick, No. 22 overall, in Round 1.

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2020 NFL Draft: Ranking the top-7 WR prospects

2020 NFL Draft: Ranking the top-7 WR prospects

The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2020 NFL offseason with a need for dynamic playmakers on offense as Howie Roseman and company look to upgrade the roster at several pertinent positions.

Despite carrying a hefty load at wide receiver from a salary perspective, the Eagles are expected to be active during a historic NFL Draft that could see more than 8 wideouts selected in the first round.

Philadelphia doesn’t have to draft a receiver with their first-round pick, but this year would be as good as any year to take the leap.

With the Eagles needing a big-time playmaker on the outside or in the slot, here are the rankings of the top-7 wide receiver prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft.

***

1. Jerry Jeudy — Alabama

The cream of the 2020 NFL Draft crop, Jeudy is arguably the best route runner in the class, and he marvels former Crimson Tide star Julio Jones with his ability to torment defenders on the perimeter.

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