The Eagles made a big move on Friday as they traded the 6th overall pick in favor of moving back to 12th overall. There are plenty of mixed feelings that follow a blockbuster like this, but the most important question of all has QB Jalen Hurts at the epicenter.
Just the beginning
Is Jalen Hurts the franchise QB for the Eagles or does Howie Roseman have something up his sleeve? On the surface, the answer is simple. But we all know that the team reportedly tried to move up to the third overall pick in a bid to secure the services of BYU’s Zach Wilson. While moving back is the more sensible play, we can’t rule out an opportunist move to acquire a QB if the opportunity arises.
We all know there are two great QBs are on the market right now whether the Texans want to admit it or not. One of the QB’s, Russell Wilson, is the apple of Jeffrey Lurie’s eye. The other QB has yet to enter his prime but has been phenomenal ever since entering the league.
The Eagles now own three first-round picks for the 2022 NFL Draft. They could offer those picks with an additional third-round pick and maybe even Hurts for either of these QB’s. This kind of move would be right up Howie Roseman’s alley as he’ll be able to expedite the rebuild. Obviously, salary cap issues are a major hurdle here and that’s something that would need to be addressed during that scenario, but it’s plausible to assume Roseman will be paying close attention to the movement of both signal-callers.
Jalen Hurts is the man
There’s also the thought that maybe the Eagles are giving Jalen Hurts a fair shake this season. If Hurts does well then he ends up becoming the unquestioned franchise QB and the front office will have every opportunity to get him the necessary weapons next season through the draft or free agency. With three first-round picks, the Eagles can secure cornerstones on offense, find long-term options for older players like Jason Kelce, and give Hurts a trio of players he can grow with over the next few years,
There is a downside. If Hurts doesn’t play well, then the Eagles are in line to draft his replacement and build around the next QB. It’s no secret that the team is not sold on Hurts just yet and they shouldn’t be.
It’s no secret that the team was looking into trading up for Zach Wilson but good ol’ Joe Douglas stood in their way and forced them to be grateful for what they have for the time being. Unfortunately, this adds more insecurity to the idea of Jalen Hurts being QB1. The team isn’t sold on him due to his inconsistency last season but now the front office may feel forced to go find their QB1 via trade.
Hurts is facing a huge uphill battle with an unlimited amount of uncertainty going forward. Reports over whether the Eagles want competition for Hurts have been mixed, but even Joe Flacco’s comments about wanting to prove a point inspire a little confusion. Jalen shouldn’t get comfortable just yet, the fireworks have just begun and the stage is set.
If Hurts can step up and rally the team around him in 2021, proving he’s the guy, then the Eagles may have one very dangerous-looking offense in 2022. If he doesn’t, then the rollercoaster is only just beginning.
Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
