4 Philadelphia Eagles who need to have a breakout season in 2020
By Hunter Doyle
54. . . . J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, wide receiver. 19. player
To say 2019 was an underwhelming season for J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is a massive understatement. ‘JJAW’ has been the subject of criticism following a rookie season that featured a dropped pass that could have given the Eagles a victory versus the Detroit Lions in Week 3, his inability to create separation against opposing corners, and an inability to line up correctly at times.
The 2020 season will be pivotal for J.J. to say the least. In 2019’s NFL Draft, the Eagles passed on other receivers like D.K. Metcalf, Diontae Johnson, Terry McLaurin, and Darius Slayton (all of whom outperformed ’19’). Arcega-Whiteside finished the 2019 season with a mere ten catches for 169 yards and one touchdown.
Coming into 2020’s offseason, he’ll understand the system better, and he’ll have the entire offseason to work and become more familiar with the playbook. He’ll have more time to build chemistry with Carson Wentz in offseason OTAs, and he’ll be asked to take a leadership role in developing the new additions that arrive at his position.
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The Eagles are expected to revamp some of the receiving corps this offseason, but J.J. will still be here, and he’ll need need to step up. When the Eagles brought him in, he was billed as an Alshon Jeffery clone that would eventually take over for his idol and as a reliable red-zone target who could make tough catches on the 50-50 balls. Those traits need to show up sooner rather than later.