The criticism has been getting louder and louder for the Eagles and Jalen Hurts in the offseason. By now, the Eagles’ disappointing season in 2023 talks have been beaten to a pulp and the consequences keep piling on. ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler came out with his annual series asking NFL coaches and executives to rank the top ten players of each position. In this year’s iteration, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was left off the top ten list entirely. Hurts has been under constant scrutiny this offseason, whether for his leadership or his play on the field in 2023. It’s clear now that he has questions to answer from not only the fans and media but the league as well.
Jalen Hurts Left Off NFL Coaches and Executives Top QB List
Breaking Down the List
Hurts landed as an honorable mention in Fowler’s survey. Alongside NFC competitors such as the Green Bay Packers Jordan Love and the San Fransisco 49ers Brock Purdy. Just three of the ten quarterbacks that made the top ten play in the NFC. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matt Stafford ranked fifth, while Jared Goff and Dak Prescott ranked ninth and tenth. According to NFL coaches and execs, Stafford remains the king of the NFC by a decent margin. While after Stafford, there’s a logjam of NFC quarterbacks to get into the backend of the top ten, including Hurts. In Fowler’s piece, executives believe Hurts may have even been playing hurt in 2023. That, plus the stale offensive scheme of the Eagles contributed to a major fall for him in the rankings.
Outlook of Jalen Hurts and the Eagles in 2024
Hurts and many Eagles fans are surely tired of hearing about how badly the season went in 2023. However, the talks are warranted, and the only way to make them go away is to reverse course in 2024. Hurts still has things to clean up in his game in 2024. Being able to read pressures and coverages more consistently will be key. However, it’s a new year, and hopefully a new era for the Eagles. Not only the changes in the coaching staff, but the retirements of Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox will surely be factors of their success or failures in 2024. The team will need a new set of leaders to start stepping up, including Hurts. If anything, expect a fresh-looking Eagles team that is hungry to silence all the critics once again.
With the turnover of the roster, there will be a little skepticism, but there should also be excitement, especially with the offense. Kellen Moore should be a big upgrade as the new offensive coordinator. Free agent signing Saquon Barkley should be an unbelievable addition behind this Eagles offensive line. Both additions will take tremendous pressure off Hurts and the Eagles receivers. Overall, Hurts has everything he needs around him to bounce back and rank in the top eight quarterbacks in 2025. There will be some stiff competition next year, with Goff and the Detroit Lions and Purdy and the 49ers, but the Eagles are capable of anything. It’s all in their hands to make all the offseason criticism fade away.
