What does the Gardner Minshew trade mean for Jalen Hurts?
There’s a young quarterback headed to the City of Brotherly Love. Could the addition of Gardner Minshew mean the Eagles could have a new Week 1 starter?
This offseason, Philadelphia Eagles’ general manager Howie Roseman dealt the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to the Indianapolis Colts. Quarterback Carson Wentz’s five-year stay in the City of Brotherly Love saw him start all 16 games as a rookie, put up MVP-like numbers a year later. Then came a string of injuries that in some ways affected his performance.
It was obviously time for a change of scenery for the young performer. He’s been reunited with his one-time offensive coordinator with the Colts in Frank Reich. Perhaps he can get him back on track when it comes to taking care of the football. A season ago, he was benched late in the year for 2020 second-round pick Jalen Hurts. The latter appeared on track to be new head coach Nick Sirianni’s starter for their Week 1 clash with the Atlanta Falcons.
That may still be the case. But ponder the latest news and this trade (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).
Trade: Jaguars are sending QB Gardner Minshew II to the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional 2022 sixth-round pick, per sources. The 6th-round pick could go to a 5th if Minshew plays in 50 percent of the plays in three games this season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 28, 2021
The challenge ahead for the Eagles
Sirianni and his staff certainly have some work to do. The team parted ways with a player that had his struggles staying healthy and taking care of the football. In his last two seasons with the Birds, Wentz played and started in 29 total games (including playoffs). He threw for 43 scores but was picked off 22 times. There were a combined 27 fumbles and he lost the ball 11 times. The five-year pro was sacked a combined 88 times over that stretch.
Hurst and Minshew are players with similar issues. As a rookie, the former appeared in 15 games, threw for six touchdowns put served up four interceptions and lost two of his nine fumbles. Minshew made 23 appearances in his two-year stay with the Jaguars. He totaled 37 TD passes but was picked off a combined 11 times. There were also another 11 turnovers courtesy of 18 fumbles.
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All told, it could be a season in which Hurts and Minshew (and Joe Flacco) all wind up in and out of the starting lineup. That’s not necessarily a formula for escaping last place in any division. The Eagles could see both the best and the worst from each of these quarterbacks.