Carolina Panthers: Five draft targets in the CFP National Championship
By Luke Tucker
Tee Higgins, WR – Clemson
One of the best wide receivers in all of college football, Tee Higgins should without a doubt be on the Panthers’ draft radar this spring. Higgins has piled up nearly 1,200 receiving yards this season, and ranks in the top 10 in the nation with 13 touchdowns. He is the Tigers’ leading receiver in 2019 and is the fourth-best wide receiver in the 2020 draft according to CBS Sports.
At 6’4,” 215 pounds, Higgins is far bigger than any receiver on Carolina’s current roster, and would be a welcome addition to the 2020 team. Brandon Zylstra and Chris Hogan were the team’s only receivers over six-foot in 2019, and they combined for just 16 catches for 173 yards. That being said, the Panthers were clearly lacking a big threat on the outside this past season. In addition, they were also one of the worst teams at throwing the ball inside the red zone.
Higgins’ combination of both size and speed make him difficult to defend one-on-one, creating a threat the Panthers sorely lacked in 2019. He showed at Clemson that he can beat coverage anywhere on the field, and is a reliable threat down the field. According to thedraftnetwork.com, two of his best attributes are his extreme catch radius and his ability to hang on through contact. Higgins isn’t worth the seventh pick, but if the Panthers elect to trade back or if he falls into the second round, he could be an ideal pickup for Carolina.