Film Breakdown, Analysis of Dolphins Sixth-Round Pick Elijah Higgins
The 2023 NFL draft is complete, and the Miami Dolphins made four selections across three days. While it was a mostly quiet weekend for the Dolphins, the team is hoping the four players selected could make an impact (or least a contribution) this season and in the long term.
With that in mind, we’ve decided to review the film of each of Miami’s selections to provide fans with a look at what these rookies can bring to the Dolphins roster.
The Dolphins selected Stanford wide receiver/tight end Elijah Higgins at pick No. 197. Higgins stood out on a struggling Cardinal team, leading the team’s receivers in yards the past two years.
Higgins is expected to transition to a full-time tight end with the Dolphins. So how does Higgins fit into Miami’s defense? And can he handle the position change? Let’s dive in and see what the film tells us.
ELIJAH HIGGINS' VERSATILITY
Versatility could be the theme of the Dolphins’ 2023 draft class, and extended to their sixth-round pick. Higgins’ film is filled with him lining up at different positions and being used in different ways.
The play above is a good example of how Stanford did everything possible to get the ball in Higgins’ hands. He starts in the slot and takes the double reverse for a first down.
Higgins also shows two traits important to Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel. One is athleticism. How many tight ends are getting reverses? Not many. The second is the ability to capitalize on good blocking in space.
Higgins’ path is obvious on this play, but there are other examples on his film where it’s clear he’s got solid vision in the open field.
This play is another example of how versatile Higgins can be. He starts in the backfield and leaks out into the flat off of the RPO action. There’s nothing special about this route or what Higgins does after the catch.
What matters is Higgins doesn’t look out of place in the backfield. He has experience lining up out wide, in the slot, and — obviously — in the backfield. That is a similar profile to Erik Ezukanma, who the team drafted 125th overall last year.
They’re two different players, but they share the strength of versatility. If developed correctly, Higgins could line up pretty much anywhere in the formation – RB, FB, H-back, slot WR, outside WR – it’s all on the table.
At the moment, Higgins’ best position is working from the slot, and it will take some considerable development for that to change.
ELIJAH HIGGINS' ATHLETIC ABILITY
Higgins’ other calling card is going to be his athletic ability. He created a ton of yards after the catch in 2022 and was used on many plays like the one above. The Cardinal threw him several screens per game, and Higgins generated a fair amount of explosive plays on those opportunities.
Higgins ran a 4.54 40-yard dash, which isn’t impressive for a wide receiver. However, it would have tied for the fastest time among tight ends at 2023 combine.
That’s one of the reasons Higgins likely will transition to tight end with the Dolphins. However, it’s important to consider Higgins ran his 40 at 235 pounds, which is way too light for an NFL tight end.
Bulking up is just one of the many things Higgins will have to do if he’s going to become a tight end.
HIGGINS' BLOCKING ABILITY
Higgins is never going to be an in-line, blocking tight end. He wasn’t drafted to be that type of player, either. With that said, even primary receiving tight ends have to offer something in the run game if they want to play a significant number of snaps.
That’s the reason Mike Gesicki wasn’t re-signed this offseason. Even a player with his receiving profile has to be capable of blocking in Miami’s offense.
Stanford didn’t ask Higgins to block much at all, and the reps where he did block weren’t impressive. The play above is the most common blocking rep Higgins got.
His film doesn’t show a player with the physical strength or demeanor to be an impact blocker at the NFL level. Pac-12 defensive backs had no problem working through him or beating him to spots.
Simply put, a lot of development is needed in this area, even if it won’t be Higgins' primary function in Miami’s offense.
THE BOTTOM LINE WITH ELIJAH HIGGINS
It’s crucial to have realistic expectations for Higgins as a sixth-round pick. Players picked in the sixth round don’t have high expectations on them, and it’s usually considered a win when those players make the roster and stick around for a couple of years.
Higgins has a long, uphill battle to become a consistent contributor for the Dolphins. He’ll have to change positions and add a fair amount of weight immediately. That’s even before considering all of the on-field development he’ll need.
He has the traits of a natural route runner, but his route tree at Stanford was limited. Higgins’ speed shows up when touches are manufactured for him, but when he’s running vertical routes against man-to-man coverage, he struggles to separate consistently.
Those points all sound overly negative, but it’s not intended to be that way. Players are sixth-round picks for a reason. Higgins has enough positive traits and fits well enough into Miami’s offense he’s worth taking a shot on.
There are just a lot of hoops for Higgins to jump through to find his way onto the field. More likely than not, he spends the season on the practice squad transforming his body and learning the finer points of playing tight end.
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