Jalen Hurts as a running back? Don’t be surprised if Eagles use him that way

Many NFL analysts were questioning why the Philadelphia Eagles would use a second-round draft pick on Jalen Hurts when the Eagles already had their quarterback of the future.

The Eagles selected the former Oklahoma quarterback with the 53rd overall selection. Hurts was the fifth quarterback taken in the draft, which was somewhat of a surprise in itself because six quarterback prospects were rated higher coming into last week’s draft.

Philadelphia drafted Carson Wentz with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has been the Eagles starter from Day 1, and he reportedly signed a four-year contract extension in June 2019 that will pay hime $128 million.

The Eagles have three other QBs on the roster — journeyman Josh McCowan, who is 40 years old, Nate Sudfield and Kyle Lauletta — but now with Hurts on board the likelihood they will carry five quarterbacks is extremely low.

Philadelphia head coach Doug Pederson made it very clear after Hurts’ draft selection in the second round on Saturday that “he is a good quarterback and was drafted as a quarterback, but he has a unique skill set.”

Hurts will begin his NFL career as a backup quarterback to Wentz, but Pederson and the Eagles’ front office have given every indication that Hurts will be on the field his rookie season and not necessarily just in the quarterback role.

Pederson said this about Hurts in a text message to ESPN Insider Sal Paolantonio:

"“He has a great skill set that we can use as a quarterback and as a runner. He’s tough, competitive and a winner.”"

That doesn’t sound like a coach that’s going to have Jalen Hurts riding the pine on the bench,” Paolantonio said. “That sounds like a coach that is going to use this guy right away, to have an immediate and long-term impact on this team.”

Wentz’s injury history — he has missed time in all four of his NFL seasons, including late in the 2017 season when the Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl behind backup Nick Foles — is part of the reason for Philadelphia selecting a quarterback in an early round in this year’s draft, but you have to believe that the Eagles see other ways to utilize Hurts’ athleticism and unique skills.

I believe we are going to see Hurts on the field along with Wentz, certainly in some wildcat packages and perhaps as a straight running back. 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns.

NFL scouts closely observed his performance at the Scouting Combine and again during his Pro Day at OU. He was impressive both times. His mechanics were tight and crisp and he completed passes in tight windows and at intermediate and deep routes.

The message here is, although Hurts’ running back-like skills and strength are one of his key assets moving on to the next level, don’t underestimate his skills to succeed as a passer in the NFL, unlike other run-oriented QB prospects in the past who found their NFL career shortened by their inability to develop into efficient passers. Former top prospects Robert Griffin III and JaMarcus Russell, both top-two first-round draft selections, come immediately to mind.

Time will tell, but it is clear the Eagles have much more in mind in drafting Hurts than utilizing him merely as a developmental project and backup in the event the starter Wentz goes down with an injury.