The Eagles shocked many on Friday night when they selected Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts with the No. 53 overall pick.
Hurts is smaller than the Eagles usually like their quarterbacks, standing 6-foot-1, 218 pounds, but he has a cannon for an arm and is extremely effective moving around the pocket. Hurts finished with a whopping 1,448 yards rushing last season (excluding sacks) for Oklahoma on 210 attempts. His accuracy is average, but he has a strong enough arm to squeeze passes into tight windows and throws a nice deep ball.
The Eagles offense will likely be moving the quarterback around much more next season, something head coach Doug Pederson has discussed and is backed up by the coaching hires they have made this offseason. Hurts projects as a quarterback that could really thrive in an offense that gets him out of the pocket and on the move.
Hurts also brings a strong "it" factor, having started and won at big-time college programs like Alabama and Oklahoma. If Carson Wentz were to go down for an extended period of time, Hurts seems to have the personality to rally the troops and surprise some people. There is also the potential for Hurts to see the field even if Wentz stays healthy, as he could present a real issue for defenses if he came in and was on the field at the same time as Wentz. The Eagles coaching staff could get really creative with Hurts, much like the New Orleans Saints do with Taysom Hill.
No, Hurts won't be stealing the job from Wentz. But if the Eagles coaching staff can develop Hurts into a better pocket passer they could really have a steal on their hands and a very nice potential trade chip later on.
Here are some scouting reports on Hurts
NFL.com: Like Tim Tebow, Hurts is a winning dual-threat quarterback known for his strength, toughness and character. Hurts is a more accurate passer and better runner than Tebow but is inconsistent as a decision-maker and tends to break the pocket when throws are there to be made. His deep-ball touch and intermediate accuracy improved this year so teams may see him as a developmental talent who will keep getting better in the right scheme. He'll struggle to beat NFL defenses from the pocket, but his ability to grind out yards on the ground and make off-schedule plays should make him a solid backup with upward mobility.
Hurts won 38 of 42 starts in a three-year career at Alabama and a final season for the Sooners. "The thing he did in that SEC Championship Game, when he got benched and came in off the bench and won the game, might be one of the greatest moments in sports," one scout said. "He can run, he's a great kid and he's tough. He's a winner. I just think he's a packaged quarterback. You've got to put certain plays in for him. He's a third-teamer for me." NFL passer ratings were 95.0 in 2016, 107.0 in '17, 134.5 in '18 and 128.9 in '19 for a composite of 111.6. "You love the makeup and the intelligence," said another scout. "On tape, he's just not a natural quarterback. He's mechanical, one read. Can make plays with his legs. Accuracy was the question mark. At the combine he was amazing with his accuracy, especially on those post-corners and deep routes. But I just don't see a starting talent as far as the quick process and making plays with your arm in the pocket or on the move that you need to be a consistent, winning starter. But you want him on your team." Hurts is from Houston and posted a Wonderlic of 18.
The Athletic's Dan Brugler:
STRENGTHS: Owns the composure to play the position at a high level...fleet-of-foot athlete with the acceleration to force missed tackles...runs with the finishing determination of a running back...solidly built with compact muscle build...good-enough arm strength...accurate strikes in the short-to-intermediate passing game when his feet and lower body are balanced...anticipates pressure pre-snap and adjusts his decision-making without panicking...hangs tough in the pocket, trusting the protection...uncanny ability to compartmentalize and stay focused, leaving everything he has on the field...highly respected by everyone in the football program at both Alabama and Oklahoma....WEAKNESSES: See-it thrower, lacking passing anticipation...Late to work through his reads and decision-making is a consistent issue...forces throws into heavy coverage...few examples of him manipulating defenders and is more likely to telegraph his throws...below average pocket presence and holds the ball too long...too willing to run when the initial read isn't there instead of trusting his progressions...mechanics get lazy, disrupting his body tempo and accuracy...some of his out- routes hang in the air too long...holds the ball loose at the contact point ------ career fumbles--...admirable toughness as a runner, but needs to be smarter taking hits on his body...required surgery on his right ankle (October 2018).
