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2020 NFL Draft: Predicting boom or bust potential for 8 top prospects

By Samuel Teets

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 9: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up before a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 38-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 9: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up before a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 38-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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2020 NFL Draft (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
2020 NFL Draft (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Tee Higgins, WR Clemson

After getting to watch Tee Higgins for three years in-person, I believe some of the concerns about his ability to transition to the NFL are overblown. He does need to develop as a blocker and release from the line quicker but Higgins potentially possesses the best jump-ball ability of any receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Trevor Lawrence often gets criticized for tossing up 50/50 balls to Higgins and Justyn Ross, who are both 6-4 and on the plus side of 200 pounds. What gets lost in this conversation is how often Higgins and Ross succeeded in out-battling defensive backs in the air.

Higgins can highpoint passes better than anyone in this class. He’s also got incredible hands and range. NFL Network analyst Lance Zierlein even compared Higgins to Cincinnati’s A.J. Green.

Admittedly, I don’t think Higgins should be the top receiving option on a team, at least not yet. However, he’s a fantastic second option and I could see him feasting on a team like the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings or New Orleans Saints.

Prediction: Boom

K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU

LSU pass rushers worry me and K’Lavon Chaisson‘s profile doesn’t do him much good in this situation. In college, Chaisson produced more as a run defender than a pass rusher, which does bode well for his transition to the NFL. However, injuries could sap his ultra-athleticism in the long run.

Chaisson saw limited action in his freshman season at LSU. The following year, he tore his ACL and missed all but one game. Last season was the first time Chaisson saw consistent starting time and production. During that time, he flashed incredible get-off, bend, lateral quickness, agility and violent tackling skills.

While Chaisson can still develop his initial punch and hand fighting, he possesses the physical traits of a Day 1 starter. If he had a deeper bag of pass-rushing moves and not such a long injury history, I’d feel more comfortable with him as a prospect. Although, Yetur Gross-Matos and most of the other edge rushers in this class don’t exactly instill me with confidence either.

Prediction: Bust

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