Cleveland Browns: Despite injury, Rashard Higgins is breaking out
Even after leaving Sunday afternoon’s game with the Baltimore Ravens, Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins has enjoyed something of a breakout season. He might not be a No. 1 receiver just yet, but his connection with Baker Mayfield is becoming something special.
During the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns drafted four wide receivers. Corey Coleman, Ricardo Louis, Jordan Payton, and Rashard Higgins all came into the fold in an effort to get the Browns more young receiving talents.
Now, all but one of them are gone. The lone survivor is, of course Higgins, the fifth-round pick.
Immediately following the draft, Higgins drew mixed receptions from fans and analysts alike. While many had day two grades on the Colorado State product, it became clear that he did not have the skill-set or athleticism of a second-round pick.
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In his rookie season, Higgins recorded only six receptions for 77 yards. Not exactly great, but potential was there for Higgins to turn into a route technician.
Higgins improved in a minor way the next season. But with DeShone Kizer and Kevin Hogan as his quarterbacks, the season was beyond lost. “Hollywood” finally arrived in the end zone, as Higgins scored twice in 2017. However, there was no way he would ever reach his full potential with such anemic quarterback play. Enter No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield.
Even in the early stages of training camp, the connection between Mayfield and Higgins was evident. Higgins’ clean routes and sure hands can be great for a rookie quarterback, if said quarterback is savvy enough to actually get him the ball. Fortunately for the Browns, Mayfield has terrific vision down the field.
Through five games in 2018, Higgins has seen his best year yet. Already with 16 receptions for 244 yards and a touchdown, it is obvious just how much he has improved this year.
More importantly, it is obvious just how much the quarterback play around Higgins has improved. The days of Kizer, Hogan, and Cody Kessler are (thankfully) long gone, and the Mayfield era is here.
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Although Higgins may have suffered a knee injury during Cleveland’s Week Five game against Baltimore, his improvement has not gone unnoticed. He and Mayfield have a young, budding connection together, and it’s more than likely that Baker will be going to Hollywood more and more over the years.