The Philadelphia Eagles are turning their season around and look set to make the playoffs. They currently hold the 7th seed and could lock up a playoff berth this week. They started the season 2-5 and were deemed as one of the worst teams in the NFL. The QB rumors started to circle the NovaCare Complex like a black cloud but somehow, someway, Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts have Philly firing towards the postseason.
Hurts has done all that he can do this season and it’s paid off. There have been moments of awe followed by moments of pure confusion. He’s taken the world on the rollercoaster ride of being a rookie in the NFL (his first full season). But while he’s trending upwards for the time being, just how secure is his job?
Jalen Hurts
Hurts is a frustrating player to watch. It doesn’t matter what team you root for, when you hear this kid speak, you instantly become a fan. His poise and calm demeanor are rare features from a young QB in the NFL. Most rookies seek the spotlight while Jalen Hurts seems to attract it with his every word.
Hhis play on the field is just as intriguing. He’s had moments of pure greatness followed by moments that remind you of his age and time in the NFL.
Jalen Hurts has had the season that many expected him to have this year statistically. He’s completed 61% of his passes for 2,930 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. He’s thrown 9 interceptions in 14 games along with 9 fumbles of which 3 have been recovered. He has also rushed for a team-high 740 rushing yards 5.6 yards per attempt along with 10 rushing touchdowns which is the franchise high for a QB.
However, Hurts has yet to have any consistency in his career. He’s been in and out of lineups, he’s had different coaching staffs around him and even in college, he transferred schools after losing the starting job to Tua. Last year, Hurts had Doug Pederson and a more veteran staff around him. This year, he’s working with an inexperienced coaching staff led by a rookie head coach in Nick Sirianni.
There could be a huge benefit in keeping Hurts and Sirianni together for another season as the growth of the offense is clear, but will the three first-round picks owned by the team alter that path?
The Draft Picks
The good news is that the Eagles have officially secured their third first-round pick as Carson Wentz has surpassed the needed snap threshold with the Colts. The bad news is that the Eagles currently have no picks in the top 18 of the NFL draft. They’ll have back-to-back picks at 19( via Miami) and 20. Their third pick, via the Colts, has fallen to 25th. With the Dolphins, Eagles, and Colts all fighting for a playoff spot, Philly has fallen out of the window of selection for a new QB and quite possibly for any franchise-altering player unless the draft gets a little crazy.
Still, though, three first-round picks are more than enough to secure a veteran talent at the QB position if they still aren’t sold on Jalen Hurts. We all know that Watson, Wilson, and possibly Rodgers will be available this offseason and you can’t trust Howie not to sniff blood in the water. Roseman is always looking to upgrade the roster and hasn’t been shy about moving QB’s as we witnessed over the last two years.
The conclusion
I strongly believe that Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie will still take a strong look at the available QBs in the draft and through other avenues. They will do their due diligence because of the amount of ammo that they have, including three first-rounders in the same Draft. They’ll sniff around but realize they’re better off with giving Hurts another year to see what we can do.
It would be the smart football decision to allow him to stick with Sirianni for another year while building around him and the defense. The Eagles could use some more talented players on defense and probably another talented wide receiver. Hurts has earned another chance to be the guy, and it could pay off big time if they allow him to continue his development.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
