Summary

Tee Higgins was selected in Round 2 (#33 Overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Clemson University. A highly productive collegiate receiver, Higgins was a key contributor on Clemson’s 2018 National Championship team, finishing his college career with 135 receptions, 2,448 yards, and 27 touchdowns. He earned Second-Team All-ACC honors and was widely regarded as one of the top contested-catch receivers in his draft class. In the NFL, Higgins has developed into a high-end starting wide receiver and one of the league’s premier complementary WR1/WR2 options. Through the 2024 season, he has recorded 4,500+ receiving yards and 30+ touchdowns, with multiple 1,000-yard seasons despite sharing targets in a loaded offense. Higgins played a critical role in Cincinnati’s Super Bowl LVI appearance and deep playoff runs, earning recognition as one of the NFL’s most reliable big-bodied receivers. He is widely praised for his professionalism, toughness, work ethic, and team-first mentality, often serving as a stabilizing presence within the receiver room with some more enigmatic personalities sprinkled in there.

Strengths

• Size & Catch Radius: Prototypical frame with outstanding length and body control. Consistently productive inside the 20-yard line and willing to play through contact and absorb hits.

• Contested-Catch Ability: Excels at winning 50/50 balls and reigns supreme at the catch point. Will wrangle some of the most spectacular catches you will ever see with strong hands.

• Sideline Awareness: Excellent boundary control and toe-tap ability. Consistently displays unreal kinesthetic sense.

• Route Smoothness: Fluid mover with efficient route pacing for his size.

Weaknesses

• Durability History: Has missed loads of time due to soft-tissue injuries.

• Separation vs. Elites: More of a win-at-catch receiver than a sudden separator.

• Top-End Speed: Functional but not a true burner. Relies more on timing and ball placement than raw speed.

• YAC Creativity: Generally looks to get down and avoid contact after catching the ball than generating yards after catch.

Outlook

Higgins is an ideal fit for timing-based and vertical passing offenses that value size, ball skills, and reliability on the perimeter. He thrives in systems that emphasize back-shoulder throws, intermediate breaks, and red-zone efficiency, where his catch radius and body control create consistent quarterback confidence. Higgins’ presence forces defenses to allocate safety help, opening space for complementary weapons. Looking ahead, Higgins projects as a long-term high-end starting receiver with WR1 production potential depending on offensive context. While he may not dominate with separation, his reliability, toughness, and consistency give him a high floor and sustained impact value. As he enters the prime of his career, Higgins remains a foundational offensive piece capable of anchoring a passing game and thriving in high-leverage situations due to his high chemistry with Joe Burrow.