NFL Combine news: Eagles stand firm behind Jalen Hurts
The Philadelphia Eagles have three-first round picks, and it appears they’ll use them to help Jalen Hurts succeed instead of replacing him.
INDIANAPOLIS — For weeks, rumors have been flying around the Philadelphia Eagles and their desire for a veteran quarterback, fueled by having three first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
After hearing Nick Sirianni and Howie Roseman talk on Wednesday, perhaps such chatter should quiet down.
During their scheduled media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine, both head coach and general manager lavishly heaped praise on the third-year quarterback. Hurts, who threw for 3,144 yards and 16 touchdowns against nine interceptions across 15 games last season, has been debated in the media as the future in Philadelphia.
When asked about his quarterback, Roseman gave an emphatic endorsement while mentioning a need to provide additional help around him.
“There’s no doubt about it,” Roseman said. “I think the you talk about all the things we talked about at the end of the season, nothing has changed. What really has changed for us is the opportunity to add. This is a great time of year for the Philadelphia Eagles. …We have to continue to add good players, continue to make sure we’re doing everything we can to maximize our players’ abilities to be successful, and certainly that starts at the quarterback position with Jalen.”
Once Roseman stepped off the podium, Sirianni stepped on and hit the same notes.
“As you watch more and more, and you think about it more and more, you’re pleased with the progression Jalen has made,” said Sirianni of Hurts’ 2021 season. “I think that’s common of who Jalen Hurts is as a player and as a quarterback that he continues to get better. Whether that’s from Alabama to Oklahoma or Oklahoma to his first year in the NFL.”
Of course, there’s always nuance to these situations.
The Eagles surely believe in Hurts, but they also have fewer options than many anticipated coming into the offseason. While Aaron Rodgers never appeared a viable option in Philadelphia, Russell Wilson did. However, the noise around Wilson has dissipated, signaling a return to Seattle. With Deshaun Watson, the Houston Texans have made no overtures about moving on at a cut-rate price as his 22 civil suits for sexual assault continue.
If not Wilson and Watson, then who? Jimmy Garoppolo? Garoppolo might be a marginal upgrade, but even so, it’s not worth the picks. If Hurts continues to develop as Roseman and Sirianni suggest, he’ll usurp Garoppolo’s talent anyway.
For Philadelphia, the smart move might be using a few of its three first-rounders where they are (Nos. 15, 16 and 19) and trading back with the other, acquiring more draft capital to turn into more lottery tickets. The Eagles have needs at linebacker, edge rusher and receiver, with the latter two areas being strengths of this rookie class.
With Hurts seemingly entrenched for another year, the Eagles have to heed their own statement and continue building around him.
How they fare will largely determine the conversation around Hurts moving forward.