Oklahoma football: Jalen Hurts is in great position as backup in Philadelphia
By Chip Rouse
Not many NFL analysts projected Jalen Hurts would go to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL Draft, but that appears to be a great landing spot for the Oklahoma football quarterback.
The Eagles selected Hurts 20 picks into the second round with the 53rd overall selection. He becomes the third Sooner quarterback taken in the draft in as many years and makes Oklahoma the only college team to have a quarterback drafted in the first two rounds in three consecutive years.
Philadelphia has more pressing immediate needs than at quarterback, where Carson Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft, will be in his fifth NFL season. But when you consider the three other QBs the Eagles have on their roster — 41-year-old Josh McCowan, Nate Sudfield and Kyle Lauletta — it doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence in their backup quarterback situation.
That’s why this could turn out to be a great situation for Hurts, who will have the opportunity to learn and grow behind the established starter Wentz and, with all the skills he possesses, will also likely be used in special packages.
"“He’s got a lot to learn here obviously,” Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman said about his second-round quarterback selection in an interview with John McMullen of Sports Illustrated. “We showed by our contract extension (to Carson Wentz) that we believe this is a guy to lead us to our next world championship. But, for better or worse, we are quarterback developers.”"
Hurts began his journey to the NFL at Alabama, where he started at quarterback for Nick Saban as a freshman and sophomore before being replaced as the starter by Tua Tagovailoa (who was selected No. 5 overall by the Miami Dolphins). He transferred to Oklahoma as a graduate transfer following the 2018 season.
As a Sooner, the third different starting QB in as many seasons under head coach Lincoln Riley, Hurts produced 5,149 yards of total offense and 53 touchdowns (32 passing and 20 rushing), the second highest total in OU football history. He set Oklahoma single-season records for rushing yards by a quarterback (1,298) and points scored by a quarterback (126). He also became the first FBS player since at least 1996 to record a passing efficiency rating of 245.0 or better five times in the same season.
"“Jalen had a great influence on our program in such a short amount of time,” Riley said in a statement issued by the OU athletic department. “He had a really unparalleled journey through college football and we’re happy and feel thankful that the last year of that journey was with us.”"
In an interview with ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi following his draft selection, Hurts said, “It’s all been unprecedented. To sit here, have this opportunity to go to the next level, it’s a blessing.”
Sal Paolantanio, who covers Philadelphia for ESPN, reports that the Eagles plan to use Hurts in a similar way that New Orleans utilized Taysom Hill last season (as a runner, as a receiver and even as a return specialist).
In a text to Paolantanio, and cited in a USA Today article, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said:
“First and foremost, Jalen Hurts is a good quarterback. He was drafted as a quarterback, and he was a quarterback first. But he has a unique skill set. He’s a great runner…and he throws well on the run. He has a unique set of skills that we’re going to take a look at as we keep developing this offseason.”
Pederson and the Eagles also like the intangibles that Hurts brings. “He’s tough, competitive and he’s a proven winner,” the Philadelphia head coach said.
Jalen Hurts will begin his NFL career as a backup quarterback in Philadelphia, but his versatility will enable him to see the field a lot when — and if — football resumes this fall. When that happens, expect the Eagles to create special packages to incorporate his unique skills.