The Eagles have finally made it to the week 14 bye week. They didn’t arrive unscathed though, there have been a lot of bumps and bruises on the way. On top of the wear and tear, new questions have emerged surrounding the QB position, but it’s not the ones you’re thinking of. Jalen Hurts will still be the QB1 going forward, but your eyes must’ve popped open when you saw the level of efficiency that Minshew and the offense played at on Sunday.
Jalen Hurts
There’s no questioning the fact that Hurts is a special player. His leadership is uncanny, his poise is second to none, and the kid’s ability to extend drives with his legs has been beneficial. Unfortunately, there’s more to a QB than all of those qualities. His passing ability has been questionable in nearly every game this season.
He’s missed out on wide-open receivers too often, and he’s also been consistently inaccurate. This isn’t a shot at Jalen Hurts at all, but you have to remove the idea of the player from what’s happening. Many fans believe Hurts should be the guy, and I won’t question that, but if Hurts is the guy going forward, what makes you so confident?
You just saw your backup QB prove that Nick Sirianni hasn’t been the issue. The offensive play-calling has had its moments, but with the right QB at the helm, the offense can move. Hurts has limited himself in the passing game for some reason. His inability to go through his reads and the fact that he just can’t throw with anticipation has limited this offense.
The Draft Picks
The good news is that Philly is close to securing the third first-round pick from the Colts. They currently own the 12th, 13th, and 16th picks in the first round. The Eagles have fallen out of the top ten in the drafts for several reasons as of late. The Colts are a team fighting for contention while the Dolphins have found their way as they’ve won their last 5 games.
As it stands, if the Eagles want a player like Willis or Corral, then they’ll have to move up, which shouldn’t be difficult due to the amount of draft capital they have. Due to the outing that Minshew had, I’m more inclined to believe that Philly will be aiming for a veteran QB this offseason.
With a QB that’s already developed, I would assume that Lurie will finally get what he wants once again but with a twist. A high octane passing offense that should rely on the running attack to open up the field. The Eagles surely have the right amount of capital to go after a Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson, with Wilson being the more likely to happen.
The Conclusion
The Eagles have four games left in the season, and Hurts is expected to start all of them. With the Wild Card in reach, the team’s stance on Hurts could change if he’s able to reach the playoffs, but you’d have to question just how patient Lurie is willing to be.
What if Jalen regresses next season and the Eagles miss out on Wilson? What if the Eagles loved one of those rookie QBs such as Corral, Pickett, Strong, or Willis? A lot more questions are blooming now that the season is coming to an end. Are you ready Philly?
