Tee Higgins rated among top-5 available in NFL draft

Brandon Rink · Assoc. Editor / Staff Writer · Friday, April 24 2020

Clemson's all-time receiving TDs leader will hear his name called tonight in the NFL draft.

It's just a matter of when.

Tee Higgins is rated as a top-5 prospect available by both NFL.com and B/R draft analyst Matt Miller.

"Higgins is a tall, long and rangy wideout with elite high-point skills. He uses a quick foot fire to defeat press coverage," NFL.com's analysis says. "He is a smooth, long-striding route runner. He is at his best when on the move: slants, posts and go routes. He lacks snap at the top of his route when working back downhill. He has incredible ball skills down the field. He can elevate and also adjust to the back-shoulder ball. After the catch, he is very smooth and slippery. Overall, Higgins isn't going to do a lot of the dirty work in the middle of the field, but he's very effective on the outside and provides big-play ability."

Yahoo Sports also has him in their top-12 still on the board and Pro Football Focus has him in their top-10.

Former Clemson safety K'Von Wallace and offensive guard John Simpson have also drawn second and third round projections during the process.

The second and third rounds will be televised starting at 7 p.m. on ESPN and NFL Network.

My top 5 still available:
EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos
S Xavier McKinney
DL AJ Epenesa
WR Tee Higgins
S Antoine Winfield, Jr.

24 of top 30 drafted last night.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 24, 2020

Top players remaining on the PFF Big Board

Kristian Fulton
Josh Jones
Grant Delpit
Laviska Shenault
Xavier McKinney
A.J. Epenesa
Michael Pittman Jr.
Jordan Elliott
Jaylon Johnson
Tee Higgins pic.twitter.com/V9kQaYhp2J
— PFF (@PFF) April 24, 2020

My top 5 available players:

1) RB D'Andre Swift Georgia
2) DT Ross Blacklock TCU
3) S Xavier McKinney Bama
4) DE AJ Epenesa Iowa
5) WR Tee Higgins Clemson
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 24, 2020