NFL draft bag: should the Eagles play a quarter early or stick with Jalen Hurts?

This week in the draft mailbag we have only one very good question. If you have any queries about the NFL draft regarding the Eagles, shoot it to [email protected]!

‘If the Eagles trade with Carson Wentz, how much more likely is it that they will set up a QB? Who would pick them at # 6, or would they even trade them for one? ‘- Anthony

These are the questions we are asking ourselves as we wait for the Carson Wentz trade to finally happen.

As for the goal of a rookie quarterback, it all depends on what the team of Jalen Hurts thinks, which is definitely worth considering in their decision to set up a new caller.

In my opinion, Jalen Hurts has a future as an NFL quarterback. While his rookie season had its pros and cons, there was plenty to be encouraged by. The big sell out for me, and probably for the Eagles, is the intangible stuff of Jalen Hurts. He is clearly loved among the team and that is evident in the way the offense reacted to him when he started. Hurts never appeared as an appetizer through obstacles: whether his mistakes, the mistakes of his teammates, or the pressure of the defense. This is great for a young player like Hurts.

Hurts’ arm strength is widely regarded as a constraint on his NFL ceiling. While these issues are valid, there are also many ways Hurts can overcome an average arm in the NFL. Hurts is a smart passerby who has limited mistakes all the way to college. Becoming very efficient, fast and accurate with the ball is a clear way for Hurts to win in the NFL as a quarterback. Combine that with his existing athletics and cool attitude, and you’re the player yourself.

One last thing for Hurts is that he has improved his entire career. From his freshman year in Alabama to his tremendous final season in Oklahoma, Jalen Hurts has made every measurable progress in terms of quarterback position. There is no reason to think that the trajectory will stop after his rookie year in the NFL. He’s the youngest fullback to have played for the Eagles in a long time, and it would not be entirely ridiculous if the team wanted to see what he could do with a full season as a starter. They can use the pull they get for Wentz to build a talented young offense and hope Hurts take a big step in his second season. If he does not, the Eagles are in a position to get a top back next year.

Of course, the argument for the quality of this class is to set a quarterback highlight. Even with Trevor Lawrence as a lock for the Jaguars, the Eagles can get a very good player in Justin Fields, Zach Wilson or Trey Lance. If the team is sold on one of the guys, the potential of Jalen Hurts is not important.

All this is currently very hypothetical. We do not know what the Wentz trade looks like there and the team will definitely make statements about Jalen Hurts after that happens.

Personally, I think this quarterback class is too good to pass up. However, if the team decides to continue with Jalen Hurts for another season and use their ammunition to rebuild the offense this spring, it will make perfect sense.