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The Philadelphia Eagles made quite the noise by selecting Jalen Hurts with the 53rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Lots of eyebrows were raised since the team already has Carson Wentz entrenched at the starting quarterback position since 2016.
While baffling in the eyes of many observers, drafting Hurts actually makes sense for the Eagles.
For starters, Hurts is simply too talented to pass on. The guy has racked up accolades throughout his collegiate career. He made an immediate impact with Alabama in 2016, throwing for nearly 2,800 yards in 15 games played to lead the Crimson Tide to the SEC Championship. Hurts was ultimately named as the SEC’s Freshman and Offensive Player of the Year for his phenomenal breakout season.
Two years later, Hurts would be a part of the National Championship-winning team to add to the Crimson Tide’s endless collection of trophies.
Rather than sticking to his comfort zone, Jalen pulled off a surprising move by joining Oklahoma for his senior year. Much like what he did in Alabama, Hurts had another dominating season by posting collegiate career highs in passing yards (3,851) and passing touchdowns (32). He was likewise named as the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year while leading the Sooners to the Conference Championship.
While Hurts’ ability to pass is already evident, what stands out is his excellent running game. In 42 collegiate games that he has started, Hurts has amassed 43 rushing touchdowns — and that is what has the scouts raving about the 21-year old.
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“[He is a] talented runner who should be a big part of his utilization at the next level. Get him on the move; designed runs and zone read are all part of what can make him difficult to defend,” said Joe Marino of The Draft Network.
As everybody knows, having a dual-threat quarterback in the NFL is such a luxury in this day and age. One doesn't need to look further than current Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson, who has made that tremendous impact for his team en route to winning MVP in just his second season.
But perhaps the most glaring argument on why Hurts was chosen by the Eagles is to serve as a backup to the aforementioned Wentz. While the latter has been more than capable in his job, Philadelphia has been tracking the ongoing health concerns with Wentz. Since suffering an ACL injury in 2017, Wentz’s mechanics and efficiency (passer rating and average passing yards per game) have seen a slight dip.
Consider the selection of Jalen Hurts as a surplus for the Eagles. There should be no harm in adding another talented quarterback whose number will be called upon if the circumstances call for it in the near future.
