Which young NFL wide receivers have the talent and are in the right situation for them to have a breakout season in the 2021 campaign?
The NFL is no stranger to seeing second- or third-year wide receivers make a leap, whther or not they improve from good to great or even go from being bad to being a quality pass-catcher in the league.
We saw these types of leaps last year from players like A.J. Brown, who established himself as a star with the Titans, and with Travis Fulgham, who came out of relative obscurity to go on a torrid run with the Eagles. And chances are, we’ll see it again in the 2021 season. The question is which players will make such a jump.
These five young NFL wide receivers, many of them second-year players, have a great opportunity to seize the 2021 campaign and enjoy a breakout year.
5. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Because of the strength of the wide receiver class in the 2020 NFL Draft, Tee Higgins fell just outside the first round as the Bengals paired him with quarterback Joe Burrow. But while the Clemson product may hold the distinction of second-round pick, he still played quality football as a rookie with Cincinnati.
When you looked at Higgins’ calling cards as a prospect, his hands and the ability to win in contested-catch situations stood out. Those traits stood out in college as he became a favorite target for Trevor Lawrence because of them. Higgins clearly developed a rapport with both Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor that allowed him to find his way onto the field early and often. In doing so, he ended up as arguably the second-best receiver on the roster.
Now that A.J. Green is no longer on the Bengals, though, Higgins is in line to take over as one of the primary outside receivers — though rookie Ja’Marr Chase will compete for that spot. But even if the 2020 draftee isn’t the top option, Chase should help open up the field for Higgins. And if the Clemson product can take the next step, Cincinnati could very well have dangerous offense to contend with.