The media continues to fuel the fire of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts with yet another example of him not getting his respect.
PFF writer John Kosko ranked all 32 NFL teams' starting quarterbacks and separated them into six tiers. Hurts was high on the list, but he missed out on being included in the "Tier 1: Elite" status, with only four quarterbacks included. Instead, Hurts led the pack in "Tier 2: High-End Starters," coming in at fifth.
Kosko believed last year was big for Hurts, but ultimately felt that he could not handle high-pressure situations before the 2024 season.
"Jalen Hurts’ 2024 campaign — capped by an impressive Super Bowl run — was a return to form after a turbulent 2023 season. A year earlier, Hurts too often pressed in high-leverage moments and struggled under pressure, but he flipped the script this past season, showing poise and control even when things broke down around him. After a slow start, he found his rhythm and delivered when it mattered most. Over the past three seasons, his 91.5 overall grade ranks fifth among all quarterbacks."
Hurts' resume shows he should be among the elite quarterbacks in the NFL
Granted, the 2023 season is a year that Hurts and the Eagles would like to forget, but that wasn't all on him. His then-offensive coordinator, Brian Johnson's, play calls were inconsistent with multiple bubble screens, quarterback draws, and random deep passes that made no sense. Philadelphia suffered from a lackluster defense that surrendered touchdowns at the end of games.
If you eliminate that one bad year, Hurts has been spectacular. Arguably, his two best games of his career have come in both Super Bowls against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Hurts had a quarterback rating of 109.4 with 525 passing yards and three touchdowns to one interception. He's also ran for 142 yards and four touchdowns in two Super Bowls.
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Another aspect of Hurts that isn't discussed is that he is a winner. His career record as a starter in the regular season is 46-20, and he has taken the Eagles to the postseason four consecutive seasons. He also has two Pro Bowl selections and was runner-up for the 2022 NFL MVP.
Everyone loves to give their flowers to Saquon Barkley for his historical season last year (and it is well deserved), but that has overshadowed what Hurts has meant to his team. When Philadelphia couldn't run the football in the Super Bowl, it was Hurts putting on the Superman cape and guiding them to the franchise's second title.