Philadelphia Eagles: John Hightower’s ceiling and floor in 2021

Ceiling: John Hightower struggles early on and rides the bench

John Hightower’s 2020 season was a tale of two very different halves.

From Weeks 1-8, Hightower was fairly well featured in the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense, playing 51.3 percent of the team’s offensive snaps while recording nine catches for 166 yards and a successful two-point conversion. He started four games, was targeted 24 times, and looked like a viable deep threat to help satisfy the Eagles’ need for offensive speed.

But after the bye? Yeah, Hightower’s role all but disappeared.

In the eight games following the bye, Hightower only recorded 53 offensive snaps for the Eagles, including three straight games where he wasn’t even on the active game-day roster from Week 14-16. Hightower was targeted five times, recording one catch for one yard versus Seattle, and the former Boise State great faded into the background of a lost 2020 season.

If the same thing happens for Hightower in 2021, that’d be a worst-case scenario for the soon-to-be 25-year-old receiver.

With seven wide receivers expected to compete for five-six spots heading into the 2021 NFL season, Hightower is probably safe from being outright cut. Unless he falls significantly behind JJ Arcega-Whiteside and fellow 2020 draftee Quez Watkins in camp, which could happen, Hightower should have a place pretty well locked up on the 53 man roster in time for Week 1 and may even see the field early for the Eagles in his sophomore campaign.

But, considering Sirianni has no deeper connection to Hightower than any other receiver on the team if he doesn’t make plays right out the gate and receivers like Ward/Fulgham do, it’ll be hard to imagine a super long leash to figure things out on the field versus real-life opposing defensive backs.

At 25-years-old, Hightower isn’t exactly young, and considering he didn’t play a single snap on special teams in 2020, he may become a luxury on game days versus a player like Watkins, who can contribute in the return game. Depending on the day, the Eagles may opt to leave Hightower in street clothes in favor of another offensive lineman, a special teams ace, or even an additional running back like Kerryon Johnson to contribute as a pass blocker.

If that happens, and Hightower once again finishes out the 2021 NFL season as the Eagles’ fifth or maybe even sixth wide receiver, the writing will all but be on the wall in regards to his future with the club moving forward.

What do you think? Will John Hightower earn a starting spot opposite Jalen Reagor and DeVonta Smith, or will the second-year receiver fall behind Travis Fulgham and Greg Ward and once again ride the bench down the stretch? Sound off in the comments section below!