Cincinnati Bengals: Tee Higgins’ Immediate Role

Second-round draft pick Tee Higgins is an intriguing addition to a crowded Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver room.

Wide receiver was not a glaring need for the Cincinnati Bengals in the draft, but they grabbed Clemson’s Tee Higgins at the top of the second round anyway. They were wise to do so, as there are some uncertainties surrounding the unit, regardless of talent.

Tyler Boyd has developed into a rarely talked about upper echelon wide receiver with consecutive 75+ catch seasons. There may or may not be hope left for former first-round pick John Ross. He has shown some good flashes, but health and consistency are issues.

Much like Higgins, Auden Tate is a unique physical specimen who knows how to use his body to get open and make plays. Tate broke out by snagging 40 balls and averaged over 14 yards per catch last year.

That brings us to the recently franchise-tagged A.J. Green. When you talk to Bengals fans, Green is near the top as they list their reasons for 2020 optimism, but let’s be honest, the seven-time Pro Bowler will be 32 when the season starts and has played nine total games in the last two seasons.

Green may still be the player he once was, but the Bengals can’t bank on it. Cincinnati was not adequately prepared to be without Green’s production as much as they were over the last two seasons.

This is where Higgins comes in right away. With Boyd and Tate having already emerged as pass catchers, Higgins gives the Bengals a viable third target no matter what happens with Green. Cincinnati desperately needed this insurance policy.

Cincinnati’s passing offense without Green hasn’t scared opponents. Higgins being in the fold gives it a chance to do that. If Green is still the player he was, even better. Higgins is just another weapon in a potentially lethal offense, no matter which quarterback begins the season as the starter.

Either way, Higgins is a low-risk, high reward addition, which is exactly what every team wants each draft pick to be.