Bengals depth chart: How does Tee Higgins fit in as a rookie?

Where does Tee Higgins fit in on the Cincinnati Bengals depth chart in 2020?

The Cincinnati Bengals are a tough team to project in 2020, and that’s great news for them.

The Bengals depth chart looks so much different in 2020 compared to 2019, and that is music to Zac Taylor’s ears.

Last season, the Bengals were truly one of the most talent-depleted teams in the NFL. They earned the number one overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft which they used to select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, the Heisman-winning signal-caller who was fresh off of the best single-season for a QB in college history.

After making Burrow their top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Bengals followed it up with Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins in the second round.

Higgins, a big-bodied receiver who set the Clemson school mark with 27 touchdown catches, is in an interesting position heading into his rookie season.

Bengals depth chart at wide receiver (top four)

• WR1: AJ Green
• WR2: Tyler Boyd
• WR3: John Ross
• WR4: Auden Tate

Green was the team’s franchise player in the 2020 offseason and missed all of last season to injury.

Tyler Boyd is one of the most slept on playmakers in the NFL right now and led the Bengals last season in:

• Targets: 148
• Receptions: 90
• Receiving yards: 1,046
• Touchdowns: 5

Auden Tate was the WR2 in terms of overall production and targets last season with 40 receptions on 80 targets and 575 yards, good for second on the team.

John Ross enjoyed something of a ‘breakout’ season with 506 yards on just 28 receptions and three touchdowns in eight games. Ross has 10 touchdown catches in the last two seasons and just 49 receptions overall. He’s slowly growing into his role.

With Green, Boyd, and Ross atop the depth chart, what will Higgins’ role be in 2020?

The Bengals may not have 80 targets for him like they did for Auden Tate last season with Green back and Boyd a reliable option from the slot. They also need to maximize the talent they have with John Ross and his speed if he’s healthy, and they have backs like Joe Mixon and Gio Bernard who can really make an impact as receivers out of the backfield.

Higgins will go into Bengals camp with a chance to compete for reps, but they might be limited in his rookie season unless he’s forced into duty due to injury.

And that’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

Higgins is a big-play threat and a red zone weapon who can be used in that area of the field immediately. He has the ability to go up and make plays at the catch point that not many other receivers in this draft class can make.

If the Bengals stay healthy, I’ve said before and I’ll say again that they might have a little something offensively that not a lot of other people around the league are expecting.

If they are mostly healthy this season, that could minimize Higgins’ role. He was undoubtedly drafted with more than just 2020 in mind, but the Bengals would do well to get him some packages and targets even if his role is somewhat limited.

If AJ Green and John Ross are having success, that’s good news for the Bengals. Perhaps the best situation for Higgins as a rookie is to make the most of his opportunities when they are given, but he will undoubtedly be ready if called upon for full-time action.