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The Philadelphia Eagles shocked a lot of people in the 2020 NFL Draft when they selected quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second round (53rd overall).
Hurts is a highly-regarded NFL prospect. But there was a glaring issue with the selection. The Eagles already had their superstar franchise quarterback in Carson Wentz, a 27-year-old veteran who could very well become one of the best quarterbacks in football. And whom the Eagles signed to a four-year, $128 million extension in June after initially picking up his fifth-year option at the the time of the draft.
However, Philadelphia stood by the pick. They now have a young quarterback they can mold should anything unexpected occur. And he's an inexpensive backup for the next few years, at the very least.
There is another issue, one that all players, veterans and rookies alike, are facing. With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this has not been a normal offseason, which means the players have not really had the chance to meet with the coaches or their teammates.
Due to that, it's easy to see how player development might be held back. So far, though, it hasn't affected Hurts too much, all things considered.
According to Mike Kaye of NJ.com, Philadelphia head coach Doug Pederson has revealed how Hurts is progressing so far this offseason. Said Pederson,
Article Continues Below“His growth, from a mental standpoint, from the beginning of the offseason to now, has been very good.”
Pederson also said that quarterbacks coach Press Taylor has allowed Hurts to command the virtual huddle during the team's online meetings and is passing the test:
“He’s done that at a really good, high level … And now, it’s just a matter of once we get him on the grass, he’s got to do it for real …
You take things slower with young players … You take things a little bit slower so they can understand the terminology, they can call a play in a huddle, and then you teach them everything that goes along with it.”
So while the coaches don't get to meet with the players face-to-face at the moment, but they can still go over the playbook just as they would otherwise. That means Pederson gets to see how Hurts is grasping the Eagles system and understanding all the little things outside of actually throwing the football.
Obviously, the Eagles still have not been able to suit up and see how Hurts does on the field. But things are progressing well. It seems that Pederson is happy with how his rookie quarterback is taking everything in stride.
Wentz has proven to be one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL when he's healthy. If he does deal with injury this season, the Eagles now have an exciting rookie who could potentially take up the mantle while Wentz heals.
