Elijah Higgins 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Background: 

• Consensus four-star recruit

• Played in 2018 Under Armour All-America Game
• Father played football at University of South Florida

System: 

• Scheme tendencies: Pro-style West Coast offense
• 2022 projected role: Starting WR

Pros: “Body beautiful” is one way to describe Stanford wide receiver Elijah Higgins. He has a chiseled and rocked-up frame. His frame allows him to shield the defensive back from the football on slants and in-breaking routes. He has strong and soft hands to comfortably reel in passes! He looks the ball in, safely securing it before running. I like the way he stems from the leverage he desires to win, pushing the cornerback one way before breaking back across their face. He’s a reliable red-zone threat with his ability to post up and body cornerbacks. There are parrels between the way Higgins and Michael Thomas win. Both are big-framed wide receivers that win on in-breaking routes. His frame resembles the late, great Demaryius Thomas.

Cons: Elijah Higgins is not a dynamic athlete. He did not showcase explosiveness or long speed to work as a three-level outside receiver. I would like to see an improvement against press alignment. Expanding the package will assist him to enter his route stems and become available for the quarterback quickly. There are reps where defensive backs are able to get their hands into his frame and impede his momentum. A little more emphasis on his vertical releases and push can open room to break on inside routes. His game seems to be best suited to play from the slot or reduced splits to afford him multiple release access points. Higgins does not run a complete route tree at this point of his career.

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