When it comes to the Las Vegas Raiders and this year’s wide receiver class, the names are ample. Where does Clemson’s Tee Higgins fit in the process?
Is Raider Nation Sleeping On Tee Higgins At Number 12 or 19 for the Raiders?
The NFL draft can be a crapshoot as far as where players end up being taken. The wide receivers this year are going early and often. However, the surplus means the Raiders can still land top-notch talent. Enter 6-foot-4 and 216-pound ex-Clemson Tiger Tee Higgins.
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In a recent article by Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Higgins quite emphatically states he believes he’s the cream of the crop. So now we know his confidence won’t be lacking if general manager Mike Mayock makes the call.
“I feel like I’m the No. 1 guy, I feel like I can go to a team and immediately impact that team and help that team get to the Super Bowl.”
Tenacity notwithstanding, Higgins does have the frame and, as Tafur pointed out, he hopes to run a 4.4 this week, which would only boost his stock.
Higgins’ height is certainly something the Raiders and the rest of the NFL would like on their team. To further elaborate, just look at who Higgins models his game after:
“A lot of people thought I was a slow tall guy, but the film speaks for itself. I’m not slow, I’m a tall guy that’s got great speed,” Higgins said. “I model my game after guys like Julio Jones, A.J. Green — with Julio, he’s physical and has good long speed; with A.J., he goes up and attacks the ball at the highest point.”
The Raiders haven’t had someone the level of Julio Jones, in a very long time. Antonio Brown never even played a snap for the Raiders and Amari Cooper plays elsewhere now.
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If Higgins is there, why not take a chance? Most mocks, like the one by the Bills Wire, say Higgins should still be there at 22. In other words, the Raiders should have the option to pick him at 19 if they so desire. Higgins, who’s drawing a comparison to DeVante Parker, could be the receiver the Raiders hoped Brown would be and the one Cooper never turned out to be.