By Marvin Moore September 4, 2023
Jalen Hurts is more than just a dual-threat quarterback. The 2022 MVP runner-up considers himself a “triple threat” playmaker with his football IQ, cannon-like arm, and elite running skills.
This impressive mix of talents allowed Hurts to win 14 of 15 regular season starting assignments a year ago while tying a Philadelphia Eagles record with 35 total touchdowns. The 25-year-old also led the franchise to its fourth Super Bowl appearance. And with just 45 NFL games on his resume, the best is yet to come for J-Bug.
Boasting a master’s degree in human relations, it was important for Hurts to shed the dual-threat label, a stereotype used historically to describe Black quarterbacks. The tag was associated with an inability to read defensive pass coverages and a lack of intelligence to play the position at a high level.
Hurts growth as a franchise quarterback was evident last season. Besides increasing his completion percentage by 5% (over the previous year) to 66.5%, his 113.83 passer rating on deep balls was light years ahead of the league average of 79.0.
A dynamic talent, Hurts’ numbers in 18 overall starts last year were phenomenal. He tallied 903 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground and posted 5,183 total yards and 43 total touchdowns. He also became the first quarterback in league history to finish with a 100-plus passer rating and tally over ten rushing scores.
Bill Belichick, the greatest defensive coach in the history of the NFL, described Hurts as “arguably the best player in the league, or one of the top two or three best players in the league.” I concur.
Although the native Texan has proved his chops as a passer, he remains an essential weapon in the Eagles rushing attack. Hurts has tallied 1,898 career rushing yards and surpassed 700 yards on the ground in the last two seasons. Last year, Hurts led all quarterbacks with 165 rushing attempts, and his 53 designed running plays ranked third in the league among signal-callers.
But besides being a talented passer and consistent running threat, the 2019 Heisman Trophy runner-up is adept at reading the different looks that defensive coordinators present him. His multifaceted skills allow him to attack opposing teams with his arms, legs, and mind.
Hurts has thrived in the Eagles’ Run Pass Option (RPO) offensive scheme, which has the offensive lineman blocking for a run while the receivers run routes. The former second-round pick paced the league with 67 RPO passing attempts while posting 434 passing yards and four touchdowns.
Hurts inked a five-year contract extension in April for $255 million ($180 million guaranteed), with an annual salary of $50 million, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time. With such a massive investment, will the Eagles curtail Hurts’ ability to terrorize opposing defenses with his legs? I don’t think so.
The fourth-year veteran knows how to slide well to avoid hits at the end of running plays and is smart enough to throw the ball out of bounds when he is out of the pocket with a pass rusher breathing down
his neck. However, Hurts still must learn not to struggle for extra yards on some plays. He missed two games with an injured shoulder last season on a quarterback keeper.
The Eagles are the favorites to win the NFC East for the third time in five seasons. The expectations for Hurts and the offensive unit are sky-high, and the pressure to put together another MVP-like season won’t faze Mr. Triple-threat.
The former Oklahoma standout tossed multiple touchdowns in eight games in 2022 and ran for a score in nine outings. He was also 5-0 against playoff teams with nine total touchdowns. The kid shined the brightest in marquee games. Period.
Hurts barely missed winning the Super Bowl and the league MVP trophy last year. However, the Eagles’ ultra-talented field general is poised for another record-setting campaign, and that’s bad news for the rest of the NFL.
