Yes, I know he finished his career at Oklahoma. But like it or not, the quarterback room at Alabama that included Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, and Mac Jones all at the same time will forever be compared throughout their NFL careers. And as we enter year three for Hurts and Tagovailoa and year two for Jones, Hurts has clearly began to separate himself as the best Alabama quarterback in the NFL.
The irony of this can’t be understated, as Crimson Tide fans will remember that the reason Hurts lost his job at Alabama was his limitations as a passer and the fact that at the college level, Tagovailoa was simply a better player. But as it’s now beginning to show in the NFL, Hurts’ ceiling is extremely high and he had a ton of room to grow.
I’ll be the first to admit, I was far from fully sold on Hurts after last season. He would show flashes of greatness, then do something boneheaded. But just two games into his third NFL campaign, Hurts has already shown tremendous improvement as a passer and Philadelphia’s offense appears to be firing on all cylinders.
The progression of Jalen Hurts as a passer are as clear as day. Some of these throws he doesn’t even think about attempting a season ago. 📈 pic.twitter.com/1vPZoecXgH
— Sean (@SeanTalksEagles) September 21, 2022
Hurts is hanging in the pocket, going through his progressions, and making some big time throws into really tight windows. His arm strength appears to have improved, as has his confidence as a passer. While in his first two seasons I think he had a tendency to tuck it and run if his first read wasn’t there, Hurts is trusting his arm and making some throws that make you say “wow”.
Of course, GM Howie Roseman acquiring a legitimate WR1 in AJ Brown from the Tennessee Titans has made a huge difference, but as crazy as this concept sounds, quarterbacks need playmakers in order to develop (hint hint Bill Belichick).
You have to give major props to Howie Roseman and the Eagles for putting their eggs in the Jalen Hurts basket and trading away Carson Wentz. It’s easy to forget now, but Wentz likely would have been the NFL MVP in 2017 if he hadn’t torn his ACL late in the season. You could have completely understood if Philly had elected to ride it out with who they previously thought was their franchise QB instead of the unproven Hurts.
But instead, they made Hurts the starter before the 2021 season and have given him the time, and now the weapons to develop, and it looks like the decision is paying off dividends for them. Philadelphia should cruise to a division title in the putrid NFC East and looks like a legitimate contender in the NFC. All the while, Jalen Hurts is developing into a legitimate elite NFL quarterback and is only going to get better from here. Good times are ahead in Philadelphia.