Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins styles fit well together
The Cincinnati Bengals may have found their next dynamic duo in Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins.
The Cincinnati Bengals finally hit the reset button at the quarterback position in the 2020 NFL Draft. After nearly a decade with Andy Dalton at the helm, it was time for the organization to go in a different direction.
With the first overall pick, they selected LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, whose rise was incredible in the 2019 season en route to a Heisman Trophy and a National Championship. His accuracy, pocket presence, and decision making made him the best quarterback in the draft, and the best pick made by the Bengals.
In the second round, Cincinnati opted to help out Burrow in the passing game, selecting Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins. Higgins was a polarizing prospect come draft time due to concerns with his route running ability and what his dominant traits were.
The good news for Higgins is that he enters a great situation in Cincinnati. It’s not necessarily because of the offense that head coach Zac Taylor deploys. It is because of the quarterback that he was drafted with in the 2020 NFL Draft.
In his time at LSU, Burrow trusted his receivers to make plays when he needed, and would often put them in a position to make contested catches down the field. Burrow was never afraid to challenge the defense because he knew he had playmakers in Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase who succeeded in that area of the game.
#LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase is so dominant at the catch point, but an underrated factor about his game is his catch and run ability. Great finisher. pic.twitter.com/yIQyQ5JObe
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) May 28, 2020
Here, we see Burrow with that trust, finding Chase down the field, who makes a great play to snatch the ball above the rim in a contested spot.
Higgins was that type of player at Clemson, someone who could be trusted to make the tough catches. He has strong hands and a large catch radius that help him win in contested situations. Higgins shows great body control on the sideline and with back-shoulder throws.
One player with a good chance of being available at No. 34 now is Tee Higgins. Athletically compares to a former Philip Rivers favorite Mike Williams.
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) March 25, 2020
Like Williams, Higgins excels in contested catch situations at 6'4", 216 pounds. Rivers needs this piece to thrive with #Colts. pic.twitter.com/Tjl5o23Luw
There are plenty of examples in this tweet to show how Higgins wins, and where he translates best to the next level. Most of them show the catch radius and catch point dominance.
Next. Bengals' 2020 NFL Draft Grades. dark
If Burrow and Higgins can gain a rapport early on in their careers, they should find a ton of success in Cincinnati. Burrow’s accuracy and trust combined with Higgins’ ability to win in tough spots will be fun to watch. They could even become what Bengals fans have enjoyed in Andy Dalton and A.J. Green for the past decade.