Dolphins draft Stanford WR Elijah Higgins, who will play tight end, in sixth round

The Dolphins selected Stanford wide receiver Elijah Higgins in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft at No. 197 overall, adding another offensive option who’s expected to make a position change to tight end.

Higgins, 6-3 and 235-pounds, was announced on the NFL Network broadcast as a tight end and later confirmed on a video conference call that he will making the change in Miami.

“I’m definitely willing to make that transition,” he said. “Obviously, I’m excited for it. I’m excited to learn the ins and outs of the offense and whatnot. But to my knowledge right now, that’s kind of the extent of my knowledge, transitioning to that tight end role and doing some different things in the passing game and run game, as well.”

A native of Austin, Texas, Higgins led the Cardinals in receiving in each of the last two seasons, recording 59 catches, 704 yards and two touchdowns in 2022. According to Pro Football Focus, he forced 17 missed tackles on receptions this past season, tied for ninth-most among Power Five wide receivers. In 2021, Higgins caught 45 passes for 500 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.

“I played in the slot, high school through college,” Higgins said. “[I] did some stuff in the wing, did some stuff in the backfield as well, but was never in a true inline position in college.

“I would say I’m aggressive [as a blocker], and I’m willing to get in battles. I’m willing to fight defenders for position on the field and just body position in general. I’m willing to block, willing to get my hands dirty and I’m excited to take on that role.”

Higgins, who ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash, said “almost all the teams” he spoke to during the predraft process mentioned making a change to tight end in the NFL.

“You see through his game tape that he’s a guy that strains with the ball in his hands,” head coach Mike McDaniel said. “But specifically for the tight end position, drafting a guy that plays wide receiver and converting him to tight end — I think the first time in my career that I was a part of that was Niles Paul back in 2011 out of Nebraska.

“For me and my history, there’s a lot of traits that he resembled in his competitiveness, in his size and in his strength. And really, this day in age, converting a receiver to a tight end isn’t as abstract as it used to be only because half the teams are playing spread and two-points anyway. Even if they’re called a tight end, they’re playing receiver stuff anyway. So you get kind of used to projecting people to do things like that and we felt very comfortable and confident that he fit the bill for that, so we’re excited to have him.”

Higgins said that in his communication with the Dolphins, he spent the most time speaking to tight ends coach Jon Embree.

“I loved Coach Embree, to be honest,” he said. “He was one of the [most] favorite guys I’ve met through this whole process, and that’s it all honesty. So, I’m excited to work with him. I’m excited to work with him. I’m excited to learn underneath him.”

Higgins’ father, George, played football at the University of South Florida and he watched the draft with his extended family in Tampa.

Higgins is the latest addition to a tight end room that has been overhauled this offseason. The Dolphins traded Hunter Long, a 2021 third-round pick, to the Los Angeles Rams in the deal for cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Miami also released Cethan Carter, while Mike Gesicki signed with the New England Patriots.

The Dolphins signed Eric Saubert from the Denver Broncos and gave Durham Smythe a contract extension through the 2025 season, but Tanner Conner, who also made a change from college wide receiver, is the only other tight end on the roster.

An NFL-record nine tight ends were selected in the first three rounds of this year’s draft but the Dolphins, despite need at the position, left Day 2 without one. Miami made two selections in Rounds 2 and 3, taking South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith at No. 51 and Texas A&M running back Devon Achane at No. 84.

Asked Friday night about the team not selecting a tight end or offensive line on Day 2, general manager Chris Grier said the team’s additions to the roster would not stop at the three-day event.

“When we do our board, we go through it, and there were a lot of good players that were picked too ahead of us,” Grier said at the conclusion of Day 2. “We look at every position, we go through it. I think you guys are probably more worried than we are, in terms of the position depth at [tight end and offensive line]. ... And like we say, it doesn’t end with the draft. There’s still guys we’re talking to in free agency, on the streets. So we’re still working through it, and we’ll keep adding the players we think fit for us.”

The tight end group was a rather unproductive position for the Dolphins in 2022, as Gesicki’s blocking struggles limited his playing time. Smythe’s targets and receptions decreased and Conner, an undrafted rookie last season, only played 25 snaps and was targeted three times, failing to record a catch. But Gesicki is no longer on the team and wide receiver Trent Sherfield, a slot receiver who performed blocking duties similar to a tight end, signed with the Buffalo Bills in free agency.

The Dolphins have an opening for a third pass-catcher behind receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and have signed receivers Chosen Anderson and Braxton Berrios, who will compete for the No. 3 role. Higgins presents a developmental player with upside if the learning curve of a new position isn’t insurmountable.

Higgins was the first of two picks for the Dolphins on the final day of the draft. Miami used its last pick, No. 238 overall, on Michigan offensive lineman Ryan Hayes.