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The New York Giants Should Gamble On Late-Round TE Tyler Higbee

By Christopher Schwarz

Oct 10, 2015; Bowling Green, KY, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers tight end Tyler Higbee (82) carries the ball during the first half against Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Bowling Green, KY, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers tight end Tyler Higbee (82) carries the ball during the first half against Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tight end isn’t a glaring need for the New York Giants, but due to injuries in 2015, depth at the position became a serious issue. GM Jerry Reese said at the NFL Scouting Combine the Giants were high on their young tight ends – Will Tye, Larry Donnell, Jerome Cunningham and Matt LaCosse. However, it’s hard to believe that any TE on the roster will progress to be more than just serviceable.

Donnell at one point showed serious potential, but he’s never been a great blocker and he has had some serious problems with drops. He missed half of last season with a serious neck injury and, even though he was cleared to play last month, Donnell has some durability issues.

Tye emerged last season as a reliable target for Eli Manning and still has some upside that can be unearthed, but hasn’t shown he has an incredibly high ceiling. Cunningham and LaCosse are destined to be backups in this league.

Why not take a flier on a late-round tight end with huge upside? Western Kentucky TE Tyler Higbee is a converted wide receiver and a legitimate threat in the passing game. During his senior year, Higbee had 563 yards receiving and eight touchdowns in nine games and performed best against WKU’s top opponents, Indiana and Vanderbilt.

ESPN’s Todd McShay has Higbee ranked third among players with the highest ceiling for a developmental project. He has fantastic receiving skills and is tough to bring down. He broke 10 tackles on his 38 catches in 2015. He’s fast for his position, but due to a knee injury, didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the combine.

His injury history isn’t the only reason Higbee will fall pretty far on some draft boards. He was arrested for aggravated assault and evading the police earlier this month after a bar fight in Kentucky. Higbee maintains it was self-defense, but the case is ongoing. Prior to the arrest, one NFL tight ends coach told Jody Demling of Scout.com that it would be a surprise if Higbee didn’t get picked before the fourth round. Now, his draft stock is no doubt tumbling.

Higbee has the potential to be a game-changing tight end and if the Giants could land him in the fifth or even sixth round of this weekend’s draft, he could add a dynamic receiver to a passing game that already has Odell Beckham Jr..

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