NFL Draft 2020: Bengals give Joe Burrow elite weapon in Tee Higgins

The Bengals had many options to make with their pick in the second round. They give Joe Burrow a new weapon in Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins.

The second round began with the Bengals taking the first pick. With that 33rd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, they gave their new franchise quarterback Joe Burrow a new dangerous weapon in Clemson Tigers wide receiver Tee Higgins.

There were many angles that the Bengals could have made with the first pick in the second round. The Bengals were ranked last in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (148.9). The draft boards were lacking an efficient linebacker at this point in the draft.

There is a common rule for a team after drafting a franchise quarterback in the NFL draft. That rule is that whenever a team drafts a quarterback, they must draft a formidable weapon at wide receiver or tight end. The Bengals have used their franchise tag on 31-year-old star wide receiver A.J. Green and have a great slot receiver in Tyler Boyd. Last season, Boyd caught 90 passes for 1,046 yards and five touchdowns.

Outside of Green and Boyd, the Bengals have no reliable receivers to make an impact in the passing game. Higgins has great size and length, reliability to catch the ball, and good burst off the ball. He also possesses an enormous catch radius to make the catch away from the defenders thrown by the quarterback.

In the past two seasons at Clemson, Higgins has accounted for at least 12 touchdown catches. This past season, he caught 59 passes for 1,167 yards and 13 touchdowns. He will have to work on the ability to catch the ball against tightly contested defensive backs.

Grade: B+

The Bengals were ranked 30th in the league in points scored per game (17.4). The Bengals need as much impact on the offensive side of the ball as possible. Having Green and Higgins as the outside receivers and Boyd as the main slot receiver gives the Bengals will give the Bengals a huge boost in a highly-competitive AFC North.