The Miami Dolphins selected Stanford wide receiver/tight end Elijah Higgins on Saturday with their sixth-round draft pick and Michigan offensive tackle Ryan Hayes with their seventh-round pick. Here’s what you need to know about Higgins, who was born in Florida and has extended family in the Tampa area, and Hayes:
ELIJAH HIGGINS
Pos./round: Receiver, tight end/Sixth (No. 197)
School: Stanford
Year: Senior
Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 235
Hometown: Austin, Tx.
Comment: Higgins is a guy who has position versatility between slot wide receiver and tight end, and in that way he could stir the creative juices of coach/offensive play-caller Mike McDaniel. …
Higgins totaled 59 receptions for 704 yards and two touchdowns last season. …
Higgins is a good route-runner and has good hands and toughness. …
Higgins doesn’t have outstanding speed and doesn’t show a knack to separate from defenders as a wide receiver, which might be one reason he’s being shifted to tight end in the NFL. …
He has good, but not great athletic ability as his 4.54-second 40-yard dash and 35″ vertical jump attest. …
Higgins said most other teams told him he’d be used as a tight end. He said he’s an aggressive blocker who was used largely as a slot receiver and seam-route runner at Stanford.
RYAN HAYES
Pos./round: Tackle/Seventh (No. 238)
School: Michigan
Year: Redshirt senior
Ht.: 6-6 Wt.: 298
Hometown: Traverse City, Mi.
Comment: Hayes is a left tackle who could compete to serve as Terron Armstead’s backup. …
He has 32″ 1/2 arms, which makes some wonder whether he’ll be moved to guard. Tackles usually have arms longer than 33″. …
The scouting report says he plays with good technique and good hands. …
Hayes is known as a high motor guy. …
Hayes would likely compete with Kendall Lamm, Kion Smith and Geron Christian, among others. …
Hayes said he knows his angles, which allows him to play fast. He said he also plays hard to the whistle. …
Hayes came to Michigan as a tight end, then switched to right tackle, and played left tackle the past four years. …
Hayes said he watched film of Armstead in college so he’s excited to get in the position room with Armstead.
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