2012-2016- The Fisher Era

2016 NFL Draft: TE Tyler Higbee has a high ceiling, but he is a risk pick

The Los Angeles Rams’ wait ended when they finally selected Western Kentucky TE Tyler Higbee in the fourth round (113th) overall in the 2016 NFL Draft on Saturday, April 30. There were immediate questions surrounding the Higbee pick, which begs the question: was selecting him the right move?

It really depends on a couple of things. It’s undeniable that the Rams desperately needed another pass-catching tight end after the departure of the failed experiment that was Jared Cook. However, can Higbee stay out trouble and remain healthy? Those are the concerns that led to him dropping down to Day 3 of the draft. That said, the Rams could potentially have a stud.

Placing Higbee with Lance Kendricks together certainly provides rookie Goff with even more options in the red zone. His 6’6” frame is enticing, and he proved to be effective in the end zone at Western Kentucky. He reached the end zone 14 times in essentially one year and a few games as their starter. Another intriguing aspect about Higbee is that he is an absolute nightmare to takedown. His film exhibits how Higbee uses his strength to accumulate yards after the catch. This means he can be useful on third down situations and can be an instrumental part of the Rams’ offense. Throw in the fact that he has reliable hands, and that makes him an upgrade over Cook.

The biggest knock on Higbee is his blocking skills, which I feel are decent. He won’t wow anyone with his blocking ability, but he can be option in certain situations. Cory Harkey and Kendricks will likely be asked to block instead of Higbee until he is coached up enough in that aspect of the job. Where he tends to fall short is his footing; it’s quite frankly sloppy and will allow speedier defensive ends to get past him.

Overall, I am satisfied with the pick. Higbee has the potential to be the best pass catching tight end in the draft if he stays out of trouble and can stay healthy. He is also a complementary pick to Goff, especially if you consider how accurate Goff can be in the end zone. This can be the QB-TE tandem the Rams hoped to have for quite some time.

Source: Sports-reference.com

You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.

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