Jalen Hurts dazzled the world in 2022. The MVP candidate was just a few breaths short of a Super Bowl win in what was otherwise a nearly flawless campaign. But with a shiny new contract comes a lot of expectations. The real question we need to ask is what exactly should be expected from Jalen Hurts in 2023?
The meteoric rise of Jalen Hurts
After a 2021 season that was filled with reasons to be optimistic, all fans wanted to see in 2022 was a step in the right direction from Jalen Hurts. The young Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was finally entering a period of stability and if he could just build on a few core weaknesses, it appeared as though the sky was the limit.
Although the Oklahoma product displayed every possible mental attribute one could possibly dream of, Hurts looked skittish in the pocket at times in 2021 and would often look to dart out into the open at the first opportunity. His deep ball was sporadic and his lack of zip on short passes over the middle left linebackers licking their lips. Of course, this all couldn’t be fixed overnight…right?
Wrong.
The Eagles QB returned to work after seeking tutelage from a renowned QB coach and the difference was mesmerizing. Hurts exploded into an MVP candidate, unafraid to let his deep-ball fly downfield to new target and best friend, A.J Brown, while showing stunning poise and confidence in the pocket, climbing it when pressured and signing it fearlessly over the middle with a tighter release.
His touchdown total spiked to 35, an increase of 9 from 2021, and his passer rating rose along with it from 87.2 to 101.5. Jalen Hurts improved in just about every possible metric and has been paid handsomely for his unrelenting dedication. But what should we expect next season?
What separates the great from the elite
The answer is simple. Any player can have a single great season. Gardner Minshew, Dak Prescott, Kirk Cousins, Brock Purdy, the list of one-hit wonders in the NFL never ends. But the list of quarterbacks who maintain that greatness is minimal.
We already saw everything we needed to see from Jalen Hurts as both a quarterback and a leader in 2022. The next phase in his development isn’t one of growth, but sustenance. If Hurts can sustain the elite caliber of play he displayed in 2022, then that’s frankly all he needs to do to be worth his weight in gold.
There may be no bigger dynamic threat in the NFL right now. Hurts torched the Titans in week 13 for 380 passing yards and a hat-trick of touchdowns. he danced and dazzled his way to 157 rushing yards against the Packers. His discipline when running read-option plays has come on leaps and bounds and the trust he has in both his arm and his teammates is truly exceptional. All he needs to do now is keep the wheels turning.
Sustaining greatness is not an issue for Jalen Hurts
It’s easier said than done, but what makes Hurts so special is his mentality. His ice-cold, forever serious nature that’s so comparable to Kobe Bryant is what has captured the hearts of everyone in the City of Brotherly Love. It’s why NFL stars across the league recognize Hurts as a quarterback they wish to play with, and why his teammates would seemingly go to the ends of the Earth with Hurts as their captain.
There has been no reason whatsoever to doubt that Hurts cannot maintain or even somehow better his production in 2023 and his inspiring work ethic and incredible leadership have galvanized the Eagles in a way that has rarely been seen.
Not every season is going to be an MVP-caliber campaign, but so long as Jalen Hurts continues to approach the game the way he has his entire career, then Eagles fans don’t need to worry about phantom expectations, because the reality of championships and accolades will soon set in.
AP Photo/Duane Burleson
