Tee Higgins set to complete nearly identical rookie season to A.J. Green’s

Rookie wide receiver Tee Higgins is slated to complete a nearly identical rookie season to Cincinnati Bengals legend, A.J. Green.

Entering the 2020 draft cycle, comparisons between Cincinnati Bengals’ star, A.J. Green, and Clemson standout, Tee Higgins, were prominent, and it’s easy to see why. They possess nearly identical frames, both like to play above the rim, and each enjoyed their collegiate days at blue blood programs. Higgins himself even admitted to being a fan of Green and claimed to model his game after the stellar pass catcher.

However, Higgins wasn’t nearly highly regarded as a prospect as Green was upon entering the professional ranks. Despite having undeniably similar playing styles, few though Higgins brought the same kind of juice as his pro comparison.

For proof, look no further than how their respective draft classes panned out. Cincinnati selected Green with a top-five pick and ensured he was the first wide receiver off the board. Higgins? He had to wait until day two to hear his name called, and he saw six other receivers find new homes before him.

The 2020 campaign proved that many scouts and analysts were wrong for having such a large discrepancy in their ranking between the two. The first-year wideout is about to complete an eerily similar rookie campaign to Green, statistically at least.

Tee Higgins’ numbers don’t lie

It’s safe to say A.J. Green’s rookie season was just a sneak peek into the many thrilling seasons to come. In his first year, he hauled in 65 passes for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns. The good news is, Higgins’ foray into the NFL hints at a similar career arc.

The exciting offensive playmaker currently has 67 catches, 908 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. Nearly identical numbers to his predecessor. After Sunday, the stat lines could draw even closer to one another.

Now, it’s far too soon to assume that Higgins will go on to have the kind of career Green has had. However, there are plenty of factors trending in his favor.

For starters, Higgins will have Joe Burrow throwing to him, a caliber of quarterback Green didn’t have the luxury of. Plus, Higgins is doing all of this at just 21-years-old. WhoDey Nation has yet to see him reach his full potential.

Expectations aside, the Bengals are set to see a changing of the guard this weekend. Green, slated to be a free agent, could be playing his final game in stripes. He has the potential to break the franchise record for receiving touchdowns.

He’ll be passing the torch to Higgins, who is in a position to snap Cincinnati’s record for rookie receptions, held by Cris Collinsworth. Similar styles, similar frames, similar stat lines, and both gearing up to break records. Buckle up Bengals fans, you’re about to witness another stretch of stellar wide receiver play.