NFL coaches and execs agree with popular and controversial take about Eagles QB Jalen Hurts
ESPN released its list of the Top 10 quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season, and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts barely managed to make the cut, despite being fresh off a Super Bowl LIX victory. According to several coaches and executives, there are still some concerns about Hurts' consistency as a passer. Here's everything ESPN […]
ESPN released its list of the Top 10 quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season, and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts barely managed to make the cut, despite being fresh off a Super Bowl LIX victory.
According to several coaches and executives, there are still some concerns about Hurts' consistency as a passer.
Here's everything ESPN and one executive had to say about Hurts being listed at No. 9:
Hurts' status is cemented. He's a Super Bowl winner who plays big in big moments. He's the most potent short-yardage quarterback rusher in NFL history. His streak of four consecutive seasons with 10 or more rushing touchdowns is the league's longest ever for a passer.
He's also one of the game's most accurate passers, ranking first in completion percentage over expected (+6.6). And he throws a beautiful deep ball. That touchdown pass to Devonta Smith in Super Bowl LIX was a Superdome-sized work of art.
"He had a better year running the ball, and the way he played down the stretch when healthy was impressive," said an AFC executive who voted Hurts in the top five. "Better throwing the ball in general this year and cut out the turnovers."
When asked to be a high-volume thrower in 2023 (538 attempts), Hurts struggled taking care of the ball, resulting in 15 interceptions. To his credit, he cut that number down to five in 2024, though on far fewer attempts (361).
The question isn't whether Hurts belongs in the top 10 — he undoubtedly does. It's whether he has the ability from the pocket to vault into the top five eventually, as his Super Bowl pedigree would suggest he could.
More than a few voters see shades of a Russell Wilson career arc — Hurts has many traits that contribute to winning at a high level but needs a steady running game around him and wouldn't necessarily thrive in a pass-heavy system.
People can question Hurts' passing all they want, but the guy shows up when it matters most, and that's a great quarterback. Over the last two seasons, Hurts is 24-7 as a starter, has thrown for more than 6,500 yards with 41 touchdowns, and rushed for 23 more. He's also taken his team to two Super Bowls in five seasons.
Not to mention, he's had five different offensive coordinators.
Contrary to what others believe, Hurts should definitely be ranked higher than No. 9, but it is a good thing he couldn’t care less about rankings.
