Outside of the pass rush, I don’t know that there’s a larger question mark for the Tennessee Titans than the wide receiver position. Last week, they announced that they had cut Adam Humphries, a move likely aimed at getting a little cash to play around with this offseason. Corey Davis is set to become a free agent, and honestly, even if he does stick around, the Titans could stand to fortify the receiving corps regardless. The group could use an infusion of speed – a guy that can really turn on the burners and take the top off a defense opposite AJ Brown. But, if you ask me, it’s just as important to get guys that can get open. That’s where Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins comes into play.
Higgins made it clear that he wants to work out a deal to stay with the Browns, but admitted he’s yet to receive an offer. And, why wouldn’t he want to stay in Cleveland? His 599 yards in 2020 were second only to Jarvis Landry on the team, but he produced that on just 37 catches. His four touchdowns were tied with Austin Hooper for second on the team behind Kareem Hunt and his five touchdowns. Down the stretch, he became Baker Mayfield‘s guy – 49% of his catches and yardage on the season came in the final four games. Higgins got hot, developed some major chemistry with his quarterback, and could’ve very well carved out a nice role for himself on that Browns offense.
But, this is the nature of the beast in the NFL. It doesn’t always work out the way you want it to. Higgins will be set to enter free agency this offseason. The Browns may opt to let him walk, as he likely drove his price tag up with that late season run. I’m just spitballin’ here, ’cause that’s what websites like us do this time of year. In a recent free agency breakdown, Pro Football Focus projected that Higgins would land with the Titans, and I don’t hate that idea. Let’s entertain it for a bit.
With Odell Beckham Jr. getting hurt this season, Higgins earned more playing time for the Browns and responded with new career-high marks in yards and yards per reception. When throwing the ball in the direction of Higgins, Baker Mayfield had a passer rating of 126.1 despite badly missing him in the end zone for a touchdown on one occasion. At 26, Higgins represents an interesting option after the top receivers in the market are gone, though citations for drag racing will raise questions over maturity.
They predict a two-year, $10M deal – much more financially attractive than what Davis will likely command. But, high enough that there’s also likely no way that the Titans would end up with both Davis and Higgins. But, let’s not get hung up in the minutiae – we’re here to speculate, baby!
I like the way Higgins plays the game – he reminds me as a kind of halfway point between Humphries and Davis. In terms of how he’d potentially fit in the Titans offense, he has the steady presence and reliable hands of Humphries. I could picture Higgins converting a ton of third downs with his ability to get open. But, he lacks the freakish athleticism that a guy like Corey Davis has. He’s somewhere in between those guys.
I would describe Higgins as slippery and savvy. He has a knack for creating separation one-on-one and finding soft spots in the zone. He’s a solid route runner that uses his body to influence defenders. Take this play against the Houston Texans, for example (one on one, top of the photo):
He starts his route by slipping to the outside, forcing the defender to change his position.
Once the guy rotates his hips, Higgins identifies it and breaks in:
Boom – just like that, separation is created, and this becomes a rather easy catch and third down conversion:
You can put on some Higgins tape and see it littered with plays such as this one – examples left and right of his shifty route running. Now, I’ll say…there’s also several instances of defenses just letting the guy go, making things a little easier for him. But, there’s much more of the play you see above.
He’s also really good at the point of the catch, and can fight for contested balls. I think he’s a tad underrated in his football “want it,” too. Like….this ended up being a catch:
Ridiculous. This dude won’t hesitate to lay out to make a catch if it means making a big play for his team. There’s been a lot of talk about the Titans drafting a receiver, or signing some speedster. But, for my money, if you can get a dependable guy capable of making big plays like Higgins, the lack of speed isn’t an issue. It’s about results, and Higgins developed into a results guy in 2020.
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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