Elijah Higgins NFL Draft Scouting Report

WR, Stanford Cardinal

Stanford wide receiver Elijah Higgins is not a household name in college football or in the NFL draft conversation—an unfortunate result of playing at Stanford on a less-than-stellar team. He has flashed the physical tools and traits but never translated them to produce at a high level. He became a prominent factor for the Cardinals’ offense in 2021. Expectations were higher for Higgins and this passing attack but they never lived up to them. 

Higgins was a consensus four-star decorated high school recruit and a three-sport athlete. Higgins has a basketball and track background. As a track and field competitor, Higgins competed in shotput, 100 meters, 110 hurdles, long jump, and triple jump. His athleticism at his size is evident and obvious. He comes from a football background, as his father played at the University of South Florida. He has played in nearly every available game throughout his college career. 

The first thing that grabs your attention is his size/frame. There are not many examples of wide receivers built like Higgins remaining at the position. He projects as a developmental possession big-slot receiver or potential TE convert. Higgins is a middle-of-the-field specialist. In-breaking routes and crossers are where he stresses defenses best, similar to slot receivers and tight ends. He runs routes with good pacing to use his stem and win the leverage battle. 

Higgins has the frame and play strength to win the inside track and box out defenders like a power forward in basketball. He does a good job with positioning. He has strong hands with a nice-sized catch radius to snatch the ball in the air away from his frame. When allowed free access to the field without being re-routed or bumped at the line of scrimmage, Higgins can locate and settle in the spaces left based on the defense’s coverage. His speed is not overly sudden or immediate at the line of scrimmage, but once Higgins opens his stride, he can pull away from defenders. 

Higgins has good ball skills in different regions of the field. He displays no fear when working across the middle of the field and will extend for passes that are helmet or higher. For a receiver of his stature, Higgins is a smooth mover and route-runner. He breaks from his stem effectively to generate separation for his QB. I loved his temperament and desire when tasked to stalk block on screens and in the run game. Higgins meets defenders with physicality and power, looking to drive them backward. Improving his technique as a blocker will increase his overall effectiveness.

Now, despite the positives to his game, Higgins is not a sudden or immediate vertical threat. His speed is more of the build-up variety. As a result, I have concerns regarding his ability to become a three-level perimeter receiver at the next level. Higgins does not face a ton of press/bump-and-run coverage, leaving his release package underdeveloped. Also, it’s fair to have concerns about whether Higgins will remain a wide receiver or make the transition to playing full-time tight end. Higgins does not run a well-rounded route tree for the Cardinals’ offense. There are plenty of cross-field and in-breaking routes to stay within his strengths. Do not expect him to be a route-running savant by any means. Due to his muscle-bound frame, Higgins struggles to change directions with suddenness. This limits his ability to generate separation. 

The mismatch he creates for linebackers and smaller nickel cornerbacks in the NFL is worth noting when projecting him to the league. There is a wide range of outcomes for Higgins’ NFL future based solely on what position his coaches want him to operate in. I can envision, Anquan Boldin, A.J. Brown, Bryan Edwards, JuJu Smith-Schuster, or Allen Lazard. He is a fascinating prospect and case study that offers a tantalizing skill set. He will need time and a plan of proper usage. 

Top Reasons to Buy In:

• Incredible combination of size and speed
• Run after catch upside
• A creative mismatch option 
• Developmental upside

Top Reasons For Concern:

• Undefined positional role
• Questions versus press coverage
• Slot-heavy usage 
• Limited big-play/vertical threat

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 6′ 3”

Weight: 235 lbs

Arm Length: 31 3/4”

Hand Size: 10 1/2”

Athletic Testing (NFL Combine):

40-yard Dash: 4.54s

Vertical Jump: 35”

Broad Jump: 10′ 6”

Short-Shuttle: TBD

Three-Cone: 7.01s

Bench Reps: TBD 

Ideal Role: Slot/possession receiver 

Scheme Fit: West Coast offense with spread opportunities

TDN Consensus Grade: 74.50/100 (Fourth-Round Value)

• Parson Grade: 74.50/100

Written By: Damian Parson

Exposures: Oregon (2022), Notre Dame (2022), Washington St. (2022), USC (2022)

Elijah Higgins NFL Draft Scouting Report. Add him to your big board here.