Philadelphia Eagles 2020 NFL Draft: Final Grades, Analysis and Context

Grade: A+

This pick was an absolute steal for the Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles. While not a household name in draft circles, John Hightower was an excellent get for an offense that has been lacking speed and playmaking ability at the wide receiver position.

Hightower fell so late because of the deep wide receiver class. Drafting Hightower, the Philadelphia Eagles offense gets another speedy receiver, who has the downfield quickness to outpace most cornerbacks in the NFL. At 6-foot-1, 189-pounds, Hightower can play a variety of roles at the receiver position and add one more tall target for Wentz to see downfield.

Playing against Mountain West competition clearly caused some general managers to reconsider Hightower in the 2020 NFL Draft. But he clearly stood out as one of the better late-round wide receivers this year and would easily have been selected earlier in any other draft year.

His biggest flaw is a lack of experience. He only played for two seasons at Boise State, bringing in 14 touchdowns on 82 receptions. He is also really skinny and will likely have problems facing off against cornerbacks in the NFL who are much stronger and more ruthless than he is used to dealing with. Hightower is hardly a sure-fire star in the NFL.

But his tools and athletic ability give him the groundwork to succeed in the NFL. If he can bulk up and show an ability to survive contact downfield and at the line of scrimmage, he could easily find his way onto the starting rotation of receivers. Considering the lack of depth the Philadelphia Eagles had at wide receiver in 2019, drafting Hightower is a smart move.

Hightower has a high ceiling in the NFL. With the notable wide receiver acquisitions Roseman made this weekend (in the draft and free agency), Hightower won’t be expected to be a star receiver in 2020 and will have plenty of time to develop. But you won’t see anyone in Philadelphia complaining if he does.