Jalen Hurts decided to transfer to Oklahoma; it seems it was the right decision. Now the Detroit Lions, rising on the draft board due to recent losses, have their own decision.
Oklahoma has produced two straight Heisman Trophy winners who were taken first overall in the draft. Hurts will not be selected No. 1 overall, but he could be playing himself into the first round.
Jalen Hurts is putting up better numbers than both Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Hurts has run for 1,156 yards and 17 touchdowns with one game left to play, all higher than Murray. He has completed 71.4% of his passes and is averaging 11.8 yards per attempt. Both of those numbers are higher than Mayfield and Murray.
This is not to say that Hurts is a better prospect than Mayfield and Murray. This is to say that he is a better collegiate player and an NFL might take a chance on him. The Detroit Lions are in an interesting spot with their quarterback situation.
Are Hurts and the Lions a match?
Article Continues BelowMatthew Stafford has missed three games this season with a fracture in his back. Prior to 2019, he had played all 16 games in eight straight seasons. At 31 years old and a potential out after last season, there is no predicting how long he will be in Detroit. Jeff Driskel has filled in for him over the last three weeks and has not impressed.
It will not be long until the Lions are looking for a new quarterback but should they take a chance on Hurts? Lincoln Riley has turned into one of the best offensive coaches in the nation. Under Riley, Hurts has blossomed into a dominant collegiate quarterback. He is showing insane physical tools. His ability to run the football is an intriguing point to watch for NFL teams moving forward.
Hurts is not being scouted like a top prospect. This is because teams may be viewing him as a system player. He has taken Riley's system at Oklahoma and run with it. Where Hurts gets drafted will depend on if a team is willing to adjust their system to adhere to Hurts.
The Lions need a change. Year in and year out, they are a mediocre team in the league. They have built a reputation of not being able to finish games. Stafford has one of the best arms in the league and has been consistent but he is not a winner. Hurts will have come from two winning programs in college. It is hard to imagine the Lions using a high first round pick on him, but if he falls to the second, the Lions could scoop him up.