Tag: Tee Higgins

Broncos spoke with WR Tee Higgins at NFL combine

Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins had an informal meeting with the Broncos at the NFL combine.

The Denver Broncos had an informal meeting with Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins at the NFL combine this week, according to a report from The Athletic‘s Nicki Jhabvala. NFL teams are allowed to have 18-minute “formal” interviews with 45 players at the combine — the conversation with Higgins was not one of those meetings.

Higgins (6-4, 215 pounds) caught 118 passes for 2,103 yards and 25 touchdowns during his final two seasons with the Tigers. He also had one rush for 36 yards and another score.

Higgins is the 36th-best player and sixth-best wide receiver in this year’s class, according to Luke Easterling’s 2020 NFL draft big board for Draft Wire. Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy (No. 8) and Henry Ruggs III (No. 12), Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb (No. 9), Colorado’s Laviska Shenault (No. 25) and TCU’s Jalen Reagor (No. 33) are the only WRs ranked higher than Higgins on Draft Wire’s big board.

Higgins is projected to be selected sometime between the first and second rounds of the draft, according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com.

Denver is clearly interested in WRs this offseason. Broncos general manager John Elway noted earlier this week that he wants to build the roster around young QB Drew Lock. Giving him a weapon like Higgins to pair up with Pro Bowler Courtland Sutton would be a wise move by Elway.

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Clemson wide-receiver Tee Higgins believes Ohio State DB Jeff Okudah is a top five pick

Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins got to see Ohio State DB Jeff Okudah close up in the Fiesta Bowl. He agrees Okudah is a top-five pick.

It’s time for all the sound bites, workouts, and fast-men running really fast down a runway in tights. It’s the annual NFL Scouting Combine, and as usual, Ohio State has no shortage of participants.

One of the guys hoping to put up a strong showing and become an early first round pick at the 2020 NFL Draft is defensive back Jeff Okudah. Most draft experts have him going as a top-five pick and there’s good reason for it. Okudah is fast, long and has elite ball skills.

If you don’t believe the expert draft analysts, then how about one of the best wide receivers in the country that went toe-to-toe with him?

Clemson receiver Tee Higgins was asked about Okudah in front of the media today and had some glowing things to say about him. Higgins and Okudah met in the Fiesta Bowl, often with Okudah having the responsibility of checking the Tigers’ best wide receiver.

“Man, that guy is really good,” said Higgins. They say he’s a top-five guy, and I can see why.”

Although Higgins missed a lot of time in the Fiesta Bowl because of an apparent injury, he was still in the game long enough to understand and get a feel for what Okudah can do close up.

Everyone seems to agree; Jeff Okudah is going early on draft day and will be an elite player for somebody’s secondary.

Eagles could make waves in NFL Draft by trading up in 1st-round for a player they covet

Eagles could trade up in the 2020 NFL Draft for a player they covet

The Philadelphia Eagles are looking to “retool” and get much younger during this 2020 free agent and NFL Draft season.

While addressing the media at the Combine on Tuesday, Howie Roseman made it clear that his team wasn’t preparing for a rebuild, but more of a retool of sorts.

The Birds could make a huge move or two in free agency by targeting Byron Jones or Amari Cooper.

The biggest waves could be made in the NFL Draft, where according to Jeff McLane of The Inquirer, the Birds could channel their 2016 energy, using picks to move up and select the player they covet such as Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs III.

With 10 picks in this year’s draft, the Eagles can stockpile talent, or because they don’t have many open roster spots, they could utilize the ammunition to trade up in the draft and grab a player they covet in the first or second round.

“As we sit here, we would love to say that we’re going to be having 10 picks, but there were moments in the last two drafts, when there were guys within [trading up] reach, that we would want to move up [for], and we just didn’t have the ammunition to do it,” Roseman said. “So if there is a guy still that we thought was an incredibly high value, and we could go up and go get him, we couldn’t take that off the table.”

The Eagles will be aggressive in free agency and the draft, adding even more intrigue to an already exciting offseason.

Giants’ Dexter Lawrence helped Tee Higgins prepare for NFL Combine

Clemson WR Tee Higgins said his former teammate, New York Giants DT Dexter Lawrence, helped advise him on the 2020 NFL Combine.

The New York Giants are interested in bringing in one more home run-hitting offensive threat in this draft to join their already impressive arsenal of wide receivers Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Golden Tate, tight end Evan Engram and running back Saquon Barkley.

One player they are interested in is Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins, a 6-foot-4 monster who could add an ungovernable dimension to their passing attack.

Higgins is about to raise his draft stock a bit by displaying his enormous physical ability at the NFL Combine. Eyes will be opened and, combined with his tape, will jettison him up a lot of teams’ draft boards. Some scouts are comparing him to Julio Jones and A.J. Green. The Giants could use a player like that, no?

Higgins, who caught a pass in every college game he started for the Tigers, met the media on Tuesday in Indianapolis and cited former Clemson teammate Dexter Lawrence — now a New York Giant — as a player he confides in.

More ammunition for the “trade back” strategy with the No. 4 overall pick. There’s a ton of talent in this draft, so why not get a few extra high picks and capitalize? Oh, that’s right. Dave Gettleman is the general manager. He doesn’t do such things.

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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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