Giving Aaron Rodgers weapons is never a bad idea. While looking months ahead to the 2020 NFL Draft, could the Green Bay Packers give him another one? If so, who could it be?
Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins comes to mind as a logical addition to Rodgers' arsenal. With the Packers seeking depth and star talent at receiver across from Davante Adams, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound high-end talent with top-end speed (that's precisely what Higgins is) makes too much sense.
Higgins is one of the many motors of the high-profile Clemson Tigers offense. In 2019, Higgins, their No. 1 receiving option, has recorded 40 receptions for 799 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games. The year before he had 59 receptions for 936 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Higgins' production at Clemson should come as no surprise. Physically, he is something crafted in the mountains of Olympus. He's big, fast, and athletic. Oddly enough, he ran a 4.75-second 40-yard-dash out of high school. Nevertheless, he has shown marked improvement, as he routinely scorches defenses with speed and acceleration.
Where Higgins thrives, however, is at the catch point. Similar to former Clemson great DeAndre Hopkins, he possesses a limitless catch radius. Too often, he makes the improbable seem probable.
Tee Higgins … WOW! #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/5xlfsIkpSP
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 29, 2018
There isn't a ball thrown to Higgins that is not catchable. Period. He is aggressive when attacking the catch point, shows off his basketball background with his “box-out” traits, has soft hands to absorb the tightest of Trevor Lawrence-thrown spirals.
Higgins, despite his size and penchant for making circus catches, isn't the stiff stereotype that wide receivers of his stature usually come in. He has quick feet and, as of late, has shown progress in his release and horizontal route-running. He is not a D.K. Metcalf prospect in that sense.
However, he isn't going to be playing the slot anytime soon. Higgins is an outside receiver. The Packers — in this scenario, we are giving them him — would do best if he were playing at the boundary, where they take advantage of his more complete vertical route-tree and catch radius. The outside would also mask his developing horizontal route-tree.
Where Higgins must show improvement is consistency creating separation. While he has shown growth beating defensive backs, him doing so is less of a constant and more of a week-to-week thing. He, in the NFL, can be susceptible to being shut-down by the league's better press corners.
Nonetheless, Higgins makes for an interesting, potentially perfect match for the Packers late in the first round. A trio of Higgins, Adams, and Marques Valdez-Scantling (in the slot) would be a terrifying sight for defenses and smile-inducing one for Rodgers and Co.
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