Why is it so hard to evaluate these Philadelphia Eagles receivers?
It’s an annual ritual if you’re a Philadelphia Eagles fan. We, as fans and members of the media, complain about the wide receivers we have. We discuss the prospects entering the draft who play that position. Then, we hope Philly drafts one. There just isn’t any confidence that they’ll make the right decision and draft the right one when they do so.
In 2020, Philly drafted Jalen Reagor, John Hightower, and Quez Watkins. They also traded for Marquise Goodwin on the selection meeting’s third day. If we’re being honest, there have to be some questions about whether or not Aaron Moorehead was the man for the job as Philly’s wide receiver coach in 2020. Why? It’s quite simple actually.
The entire unit’s veterans regressed under him. The rookies weren’t well-coached either, so it’s hard to determine whether D.K. Metcalf or Justin Jefferson or Donovan Peoples-Jones would have been successful in the midnight green. Moorehead, according to a report by Geoff Mosher, is likely to be retained by new Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, but trust and believe he’s under the spotlight.
Still, if we’re just looking at the surface level, give us Peoples-Jones’ 16 receptions, 335 receiving yards, 443 return yards, and two receiving TDs (those numbers include the playoffs) over John Hightower’s ten receptions and 167 receiving yards any day.
Philly took Hightower at 168 before the Cleveland Browns took Peoples-Jones at 187. For some reason, the Birds liked the Boise State guy over the Big Ten product who earned All-Big Ten Third-team honors in 2018 and 2019. Go figure.