A national outlet believes bounce-back seasons could be in store for these former Clemson stars in 2024.
Pro Football Focus named one bounce-back candidate for each NFL team, and PFF pegged two Clemson pros — Tee Higgins and A.J. Terrell — among those players who are poised to potentially rebound in a big way this season coming off of down years in 2023.
Last season, Higgins posted career-lows with 42 receptions, 656 yards and five touchdowns while dealing with injuries that contributed to the dropoff in production. But prior to last season, the 6-foot-4, 219-pound receiver had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2021 and 2022, tallying 13 total touchdowns in that span.
Higgins requested a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals after receiving the franchise tag in late February, with he and the Bengals having failed to reach a long-term deal. He is due to make $21.8 million on the one-year franchise tag, if he ends up signing his franchise tender, which he has yet to do. He can’t join the Bengals until he signs the tender.
Over his first four seasons, Higgins amassed 257 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns. He’s likely to raise his 2023 numbers by a strong margin, and it could net a strong payday in 2025. If that’s the case, it’s just a matter of whether the money will come from Cincinnati or elsewhere.
“Higgins wasn’t bad by any means last year, except maybe for his own gaudy standards. The Clemson product notched career lows in catches (42), yards (656) and touchdowns (five), primarily because he was far from 100%. Higgins suffered both a chest rib fracture as well as a hamstring sprain,” PFF’s Bradley Locker wrote.
“Whether he stays in Cincinnati or is dealt, Higgins has a strong incentive to bounce back this year: a line of Brink’s trucks are prepared to reward him for previously excellent play. He’s never played a full season and collected a receiving grade lower than 78.8, and if Higgins looks again like a WR1, he should cash in.”
Higgins’ former Clemson teammate, Terrell, also made PFF’s list of bounce-back candidates.
A first-round pick (16th overall) of the Atlanta Falcons in 2020, Terrell tallied 45 tackles (four for loss) and 11 pass breakups in 17 games last season.
Although he hasn’t notched an interception since his 2021 All-Pro season (when he picked off three passes), the 6-foot-1, 195-pound corner has recorded four interceptions, as well as more than 40 pass breakups, in his four-year NFL career so far.
Terrell is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie deal in 2024.
“The Falcons field several blue-chip youngsters who could dominate in 2024, and Terrell headlines those looking to regain traction. Terrell was one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks in 2021, but his past two seasons haven’t met that mark. He finished with overall grades below 75.0 and passer ratings allowed of at least 95.0 in 2022 and 2023,” Locker wrote.
“With defensive-oriented head coach Raheem Morris in place, Terrell should benefit from one of the game’s better minds on that side of the ball. It’s no coincidence that Morris had success with Jalen Ramsey and helped develop players like Darious Williams with the Rams. With his contract set to expire at the end of the year, Terrell has an extra incentive to play like the superstar he showcased he once was.”
–Photo courtesy of Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
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