[brid autoplay=”true” video=”692459″ player=”23231″ title=”Film%20Breakdown%20Jalen%20Hurts'%20First%20Start%20for%20the%20Philadelphia%20Eagles” duration=”391″ description=”Jalen Hurts’ first start with the Eagles got them back in the win column with a surprise win over the Saints. Doug Pederson drew up some simple but effective concepts for Hurts to work and it kept the offense on schedule and allowed them to sustain drives. Jalen Hurts’ ability in the run game also helped out Miles Sanders and that beat up offensive line. Hurts made some really solid reads and throws but also struggled in the pocket a little bit. All-in-all he ran the offense he was given and moved the ball. As a first start, you could do much much worse. The future may be bright in Philly if he continues to progress.Website: https://weeklyspiral.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/weeklyspiral Twitter: @weeklyspiral Instagram: @weekly_spiralYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/weeklyspiral” uploaddate=”2020-12-17″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/thumb/692459_t_1608224314.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/sd/692459.mp4″]
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is set to enter the season as the starter, replacing Carson Wentz as the face of the storied NFL franchise. While owner Jeffrey Lurie might be comfortable with that, it seems that sentiment isn’t shared by the rest of the organization.
After Friday’s blockbuster trade saw the Eagles trade down from No. 6 to No. 12 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, NFL insider Ian Rapoport dropped a fascinating nugget. The latest NFL Draft rumor indicated Philadelphia liked BYU quarterback Zach Wilson and was even open to the idea of trading up to the No. 3 spot to land him.
While Rapoport later dialed back his initial report, saying the team just liked Wilson as a prospect, the information was already out there. Now, an Eagles’ beat reporter is hinting that Philadelphia might still be thinking about other quarterbacks before the 2021 NFL Draft.
Read More: Philadelphia Eagles trade No. 6 pick to Miami Dolphins, impact on 2021 NFL Draft
According to Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press, the Eagles are unsure about Hurts with a lack of consensus in the organization regarding their confidence in him as a starting quarterback.
Hurts, a surprising second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, was named the team’s starting quarterback in Week 13 after Wentz struggled mightily. The rookie sparked an upset victory over the New Orleans Saints, leaving the organization feeling good about their investment in the former college star. But things spiraled downward in his final three starts.
- Jalen Hurts stats (Week 15-17): 50.49% completion rate, 4/3 TD/INT ratio, 75.4 passer rating and 10 sacks in three starts
After an ugly showing early in Week 17 against the Washington Football Team, Doug Pederson benched Hurts for Nate Sudfeld. Even after bringing in a new coach, though, there still seem to be some questions about the Eagles’ quarterback situation.
Examining candidates for Eagles’ starting quarterback in 2021
Related: Philadelphia Eagles owner wants Jalen Hurts as starting QB in 2021, no competition
Often with pro sports teams, owners get what they want. It’s been a problem for the Eagles in the past, so it’s worth considering how much Lurie likes Hurts. With that in mind, there are still a few avenues that Philadelphia could explore to provide a challenge for its second-year quarterback.
The Eagles beat out the San Francisco 49ers for Joe Flacco, convincing the 26-year-old t sign a one-year deal. While the contract is only for $3.5 million guaranteed, there are an additional $4 million that could be earned through incentives. Whether it’s realistic to expect Flacco to reach those marks is up for debate.
Related: 3 reasons why Joe Flacco to the Philadelphia Eagles made perfect sense
He was adequate as a short-term starter for the New York Jets last season. he completed just 55.2% of his passes and averaged a mediocre 6.4 yards per attempt, but his 6/3 TD/INT ratio and 80.6 passer rating were adequate. Given the state of the Eagles’ roster, though, it’s hard to imagine he would perform well.
Philadelphia is interested in a Deshaun Watson trade. While moving down to No. 12 overall doesn’t help entice the Texans with a chance to land a quarterback, the Eagles could now include an additional first-round pick. However, the ongoing legal issues complicate a situation that doesn’t seem close to a resolution.
A more affordable option might be a Gardner Minshew trade. While the Jacksonville Jaguars first indicated they would keep him, the signing of C.J. Beathard hints at other plans.
Minshew might be the perfect target for Philadelphia. As a former sixth-round pick, his cap hit for the upcoming season is only $897,000. Better yet, he is under contract through 2022 and his salary would only climb to $1 million. The Eagles could keep their early picks, acquire Minshew and let him compete with Hurts for the starting job.