Joe Giglio believes Philadelphia Eagles franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts needs to continue to use his legs and be the dual threat QB that he is, something that Giglio is worried the franchise might be moving away from.
"I think we're moving towards something here, guys, in which Jalen Hurts runs the football less moving forward in his career and then he becomes, let's say, a pocket passer. And I don't think that's the best bet," Giglio said at the beginning of Wednesday's 94WIP Midday Show with Hugh Douglas.
Hurts, who will turn 26 in August, is entering his fifth NFL and fourth season as the Eagles' starting quarterback.
"He's a dual threat player and I think he needs to use both of those threats to win," Giglio continued. "I don't think he is yet at the stage of his career where he is great enough as a thrower to where he can stop running."
In 2023, Hurts set the NFL single season quarterback rushing touchdown record with 15. He now has 10, 13, and 15 rushing touchdowns in his three seasons as a starter, respectively. While most have come via the "Brotherly Shove" play from one-yard out, Hurts has an incredible 41 rushing touchdowns in 62 NFL games.
In terms of yardage, Hurts has recorded 784, 760, and 605 yards on the ground in each of his three seasons a starter, respectively, with a relatively significant dip coming in 2023.
Most attribute his explosiveness and rushing dip in 2023 due to a knee injury he was battling through for most of the season, if not all of it.
"I know he banged up this past year, but I look at it is he lost his legs during the season and they stopped winning," Giglio said. "If that leg is healthy, if that knee is healthy, I still want Jalen to run...In wins, he runs the football about 11 times per game. Way less in losses. When he runs, the Eagles win."
This offseason, Howie Roseman made a splash signing by adding free-agent running back Saquon Barkley to a three-year deal worth $26 million guaranteed.
The 27-year-old star running back will likely take some of the pressure off of Hurts in the ground attack, but Hurts' ability to continue to keep defenses off balance with his legs will be something to monitor in 2024.
