The 2022 NFL Draft is upon us. For the Philadelphia Eagles, the draft poses an excellent opportunity to not only improve the team immediately, but set the franchise up for extended success.
Above all else, it will give the Eagles the opportunity to back up their words over the last four months when it comes to their QB. Jalen Hurts did enough in the 2021 season to deserve another chance to lead the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. The Eagles should do everything in their power to put the best team around Hurts as he continues to develop as a QB.
The Eagles are not a perfectly constructed roster. They have major weaknesses in the front seven, and secondary on defense, as well as a need for a #2 receiver. Not all of their needs will be solved after Day One. But the direction of their team could very well determine the outlook of the 2022 regular season.
A mindset of building the team around Hurts doesn’t mean that a receiver should be picked early either. In 2021, many times the Eagles defense was unable to stop opponents with top QBs. If the defense is improved, then the Eagles will be in a good position to win more football games behind Jalen Hurts and his improvement.
Kyle Hamilton, a #1 corner, or top edge rusher, helps the defense immensely. In turn, an improved defense will set up the offense for more success. Sometimes, the best help for a young and developing QB is a great defense. Any of the top defensive names could end up changing the entire Eagles defense.
The comparisons are there for QB1. Jalen Hurts’ career development is very similar to that of Donovan McNabb’s first couple of years. In 2000, McNabb really wasn’t a true passer and used his legs far more to make plays. He became the franchise QB the team needed in his third year – the year the team made their first conference title appearance in 20 years. Philadelphia is a young football team and continuously getting younger. As long as the roster continues to improve, the Eagles are smart to bet on the work ethic and improvements of their QB as the roster grows with him.
Howie Roseman and the Eagles front office made strong statements all off-season when it came to their QB. They backed Hurts as a teammate, a competitor, and person.
If they are true to their statements, they need to make sure that every move made heading into Round One is done to improve the talent around Hurts.
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