Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles enter 2025 with a new offensive system, a new coordinator in Sean Mannion, and the same old debate swirling around the franchise quarterback. Few players in the NFL generate as much discussion as Hurts, and among Eagles beat writers and national analysts alike, the conversation always circles back to the same question: just how good is he?

That was the central topic during a recent roundtable discussion on A to Z Sports, where the panel broke down Hurts from multiple angles. The consensus? He’s far from a bad quarterback, but the word “limited” keeps surfacing for a reason.

Hurts draws more scrutiny than any Eagles quarterback in recent history

Philadelphia has cycled through its share of polarizing signal-callers.

Donovan McNabb and Carson Wentz both generated intense debate during their tenures. Yet Hurts may have surpassed all of them when it comes to the sheer volume of criticism and praise he receives on a daily basis.

The reality of playing quarterback in Philadelphia is simple: when the team wins, the quarterback gets the credit. When it loses, the quarterback absorbs the blame.

Coordinators and skill-position players can deflect some of that heat, but Hurts operates under a microscope unlike any other player on the roster. Everything he does lands on the main stage, and the conversation immediately shifts to how he could have done it better.

The ‘limited’ label isn’t entirely negative

From a pure evaluation standpoint, calling Hurts “limited” doesn’t have to carry a negative connotation. The better framing is that there are a specific number of offensive systems capable of maximizing his potential.

Some quarterbacks can plug into two or three different schemes and still make it work. Hurts is a more specific type of player.

He needs the right system built around his skill set in order to operate at the level of a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback. That distinction matters, because it places more pressure on the coaching staff and front office to get the infrastructure right around him.

A unique comparison to Derrick Henry was thrown out from Austin Stanley. Henry has been one of the best running backs in football for years, but he’s also scheme-dependent. He doesn’t thrive in inside zone concepts and struggles cutting back against the grain.

Nobody holds that against him because the production speaks for itself. The same principle can apply to Hurts.

Between the ears is where Hurts separates himself

The traits that allow Hurts to win at the NFL level go beyond arm talent and processing speed. His composure in high-leverage moments is what sets him apart from more physically gifted quarterbacks who simply don’t have the mental makeup to deliver when it counts.

Will Levis served as a cautionary tale over the last few seasons in Tennessee. Despite possessing elite physical tools, Levis could not translate that talent into consistent winning.

The gap between Levis and Hurts is the space between the ears, and that gap is enormous. A quarterback with Hurts’s mindset and his traits is a more valuable commodity than a super-talented passer who freezes in the biggest moments.

And Hurts has delivered in those moments. The Rams playoff game and both Super Bowl appearances stand as the best performances of his career. While some will point to the Chiefs selling out against Saquon Barkley in the most recent Super Bowl, Hurts still made the throws when they mattered.

A new offense brings fresh questions

The constant coordinator turnover in Philadelphia has been a legitimate obstacle for Hurts’s development. Now he’s stepping into a brand new offensive system incorporating heavy motion and concepts rooted in the McVay and Shanahan coaching trees. That style has never been part of the Eagles’ offense during Hurts’s tenure.

Whether this system becomes the one that truly maximizes Hurts will go a long way toward defining his legacy in Philadelphia. The talent around him is strong, and the Eagles have the skill-position depth to compete at the highest level.

The answer should start to reveal itself quickly.