We’ve written numerous stories about the hating of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, and it’s frustrating to have to do it again.
Yesterday, PFF Fantasy tweeted out an image of a potential Eagles offense
“Imagine this Eagles offense,” wrote PFF.
DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert are current Eagles players. Chris Godwin is a free agent and target of many teams.
Noticeably absent was Philadelphia’s current QB, Jalen Hurts. In his place, PFF added Seahawks’ star QB, Russell Wilson.
And so the disrespect returned.
In his first full season, Hurts just led a developing Eagles team to a 9-8 record and the playoffs. He was also named a Pro Bowl alternate. Despite that, some still feel they need a quarterback upgrade.
This is eerily reminiscent of the embarrassing treatment some levied on Donovan McNabb when the Eagles selected him with the second overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft.
That year was called the year of the quarterback.
ESPN the Magazine’s had a cover featuring Cade McNown, Akili Smith, Daunte Culpepper and Donovan McNabb and was entitled “QBallers”.
The consensus #1 pick by some was Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch, and Cleveland fans rejoiced when the Browns selected him number one overall.
They would later cry, and have been crying over their quarterbacks ever since.
After the Browns’ pick, Philadelphia fans rose up in anticipation of the Eagles selecting Texas star running back, Ricky Williams. When they selected McNabb, fans went full Philly on the team and McNabb.
They booed him mercilessly, to the point where McNabb allegedly cried backstage.
In week 10 of that season, new head coach Andy Reid named McNabb the starter over future Eagles Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson.
McNabb didn’t set the world on fire in his rookie season, only throwing for 948 yards with 8 TDs and 7 INTs.
But in year two, and in the years to come, McNabb proved the doubters wrong.
In his second year, he threw for 3,365 yards, 21 TDs and 13 INTs. He also added 629 yards and 6 TDs on the ground while leading the Eagles to a record of 11-5.
In his 11 years with Philadelphia, McNabb threw for 32,873 yards, 216 TDs and 100 INTs. He also rushed for 3,249 and 28 TDs. He was a 6x Pro Bowler and finished second in the NFL MVP voting in 2000 behind Marshall Faulk.
In 2004, McNabb led the team to a 13-2 record while throwing for 3,875, 31 TDs and INTs. They went to Super Bowl XXXIX that season, where McNabb threw for 357 yards, 3 TDs and 3 INTs and lost in a close game to the Patriots, 21-24.
Despite his success, many Eagles fans never fully appreciated McNabb.
A decade later, many across the NFL are repeating this mistake with Jalen Hurts.
In his senior year at Oklahoma, Hurst threw for 3,851 yards with 32 TDs and 8 INTs and rushed for 1,298 yards and 20 TDs. He amassed over 5,000 total yards, led the nation in passing yards/attempt, was second in the nation in both passing efficiency (191.2) and total TDs (53) and was named first team All-Big 12.
That year he had more passing yards, rushing yards, and total TDs than Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, and Jacob Eason. If Joe Burrow wasn’t around, Hurts would have won the Heisman (he finished second).
Those were reasons why the Eagles selected him with the 53rd pick in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The team already had Carson Wentz, who was a Pro Bowler three seasons prior. But they must have known something wasn’t right, so they selected Hurts just in case.
And they chose right.
Wentz regressed to the point where Hurts replaced him with four games remaining in the season. The ultimately shipped him off to the Colts for what has now become a first-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft (#16 overall), which gives Philly three first-rounds picks this year.
Instead of contemplating other quarterbacks, the Eagles should use those picks to build around Hurts. Why? Because Hurts is eerily similar to Donovan McNabb.
In 15 games as the Eagles’ full-time starter (he missed two games due to injury), Hurts threw for 3,144 yards with 16 TDs and 9 INTs. He also rushed for 784 yards and 10 TDs. Compare that with McNabb’s first full season and you’ll notice how similar they are.
That should be a sign of things to come.
If they mortgaged their future to get Russell Wilson, who will be 34 this year, they would still need weapons to surround him with.
Jalen Hurts is a good quarterback and will become a greater one soon. He has the tools to be both a star and the face of the franchise for years to come, so surround him with weapons and protection and build a team that will be in Super Bowl contention annually.
Eagles fans, the future with Jalen Hurts as QB1 is bright, so stop hating on him.
Otherwise you’ll simply play yourselves again like you did at the 1999 Draft.
