10 NFL players who will make their first Pro Bowl in 2020
Tyler Higbee – Los Angeles Rams
Higbee finally began delivering on the promise that led the Rams to draft him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft down the stretch last season.
Indeed, Higbee profited significantly as the Rams adopted more two-tight end sets, racking up four 100-yard games in the final five weeks of the season, though his efforts were not enough to propel Los Angeles to a postseason berth.
Following the trade of Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans this offseason, opponents can expect to see even more two-tight end sets from the Rams, who will likely rely heavily on 12 personnel having previously been dependent on 11 personnel.
Higbee’s production in the final weeks of 2019 should see him gain an edge over Gerald Everett among Los Angeles’ tight ends in terms of target share and, at 6ft 6in and 255 pounds, he has the size and athleticism to take advantage of the one-on-one matchups he should see plenty of in an offense stocked with dynamic weapons like Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods.
With Austin Hooper traded to the AFC, there is an opening for an NFC tight end to join the George Kittle and Zach Ertz in the conference’s elite. As Sean McVay plots a bounce-back year for the Rams, Higbee can be considered the leader in the clubhouse.