Eagles franchise QB Jalen Hurts is not better because he improved his footwork or throwing motion; he has also refined his overall game. It is also his mind. His eyes. His command. The way he manipulates safeties like a vet who’s been doing it for a decade. He sees the field differently. He trusts windows that once scared him off. During his first two seasons, he had issues at various times with taking off too early, staring down receivers, and not trusting his receivers to get to their spots. That version of Hurts wasn’t outdueling Mahomes. This one can, and has.
Why Jalen Hurts Is So Much Better
It’s not just that Jalen Hurts improved, it’s how. It’s the layers to his game that didn’t exist four years ago when he began 2021 as the starter. It’s the things he couldn’t do that are now second nature. This isn’t a case of a player maturing slowly into a system. This is a rare example of someone tearing down their foundation and rebuilding the entire structure from the ground up.
The Eagles’ QB used to survive on athleticism. That’s what got him drafted by the Eagles. That’s what kept him afloat. If his first read wasn’t there, he’d roll. If the pocket got muddy, he’d bail. And when he did throw, it was often late, or off-target, or reliant on guys like DeVonta Smith to win post-catch. He made plays, but they weren’t always repeatable. They weren’t the same quarterback plays the way he does them now.
Last season, he was winning from the pocket. That’s the biggest difference. That’s the hardest step for quarterbacks. Going from playmaker to processor. Hurts made it. His footwork, lower body mechanics, and ability to drive the football on timing routes were all areas he struggled with when he entered the league. They weren’t developed yet. Now they’re sharp.
Let’s talk about his anticipation. In his first two seasons, he’d wait to see a receiver break before letting it go. Now he throws with timing and trust. The ball’s coming out before the cut. That matters. It’s the difference between a first down and a sack-fumble. It’s the difference between reacting and dictating. It’s the difference between winning and losing.
His eyes have improved, too. He’s no longer just reading half the field. He’s holding safeties with his look, manipulating zone coverage, and throwing to the opposite hash with confidence. That’s high-level quarterbacking. And it’s not just clean-pocket stuff either. I know the doubters that remain will talk about his success being predicated on how good the offensive line is. But when that line doesn’t hold, he’ll stand in against pressure, knowing he’s about to take a hit, and still rip a throw over the middle. You can’t teach that kind of poise. He learned it, he earned it.
And let’s not overlook the mental growth. Hurts sees the game differently now. He’s calmer in chaos. You rarely see panic. Even when the Eagles’ offense stalls, goes three and out, he doesn’t press. It’s what makes him the kind of leader everyone on the team will follow.
That’s the other part of this, the stuff that doesn’t show up on the All-22 or the stats. That is why so many analysts get it wrong with him.
The leadership is now matched by production. The Eagles’ locker room has his back because he’s earned it. He’s the same guy when they’re 14–3 or 3–3. They also see the actions and habits, not just hear about them.
Every offseason, he comes back with something new. After 2021? Improved pocket awareness. After 2022? Velocity and decision-making. After 2023? Deep ball touch and better sideline placement. If you tell him he’s lacking in one area, give him nine months and he’ll turn it into a strength. That’s unheard of, and I can not wait to see what he has improved upon for 2025.
The Eagles got a good one
The league loves to crown ready-made stars. But Philly got something rarer. A quarterback who built himself. And that kind of leap doesn’t just happen because the calendar turns. It’s deliberate. It’s the product of being honest with yourself, great coaching, and a level of mental endurance that can’t be taught. Hurts looked in the mirror and didn’t flinch. He found every flaw and went to war with it. And won!
That type of growth should prompt some to rethink how they judge development and evaluate upside, and perhaps acknowledge when they are wrong.
So why is Jalen Hurts so much better?
In short. Because he decided to be.
As always, thank you for reading!
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