The Philadelphia Eagles made a big decision this offseason committing to Jalen Hurts as their quarterback for 2021. They traded Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts and doubled down on Hurts being their guy by moving back in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Eagles were in prime position to snag one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s class with the No. 6 pick in the draft. They quieted any rumors that would swirl about adding another signal-caller when they traded back to No. 12.
At 12, they could find a pass catcher for Hurts, something the team desperately needs. Currently, there isn’t a wide receiver that will draw a lot of attention from opposing defenses, as Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward and Travis Fulgham are atop the wide receiver depth chart. Dallas Goedert is now atop the tight end depth chart with Zach Ertz’s future up in the air.
With the organization behind him, Hurts will have an opportunity to show that he can be the long-term answer under center in Philadelphia. Here are three super early predictions for Hurts in 2021.
3. Near The Top Of Quarterbacks In Rushing
If there is one thing Hurts showed during his limited time as a starter in 2020 it is that his legs are his greatest weapon. He ran over defenses in college and showed that right now, it is the recipe for success for him in the NFL as well.
Hurts ran for 354 yards on 63 attempts in his rookie season, adding three touchdowns. 38 of those rushes came in the three games he started and played the whole game in, with another eight coming in the season finale in which Philadelphia inexplicably benched him to Nate Sudfeld.
As long as Hurts is starting, he is going to use his legs to get the job done. Heading into the season as the starter, expect Hurts running the ball to be a key part of the Eagles’ offense.
In 2021, Jalen Hurts will end up top-three in all quarterbacks in rushing yards. While he may not average over 11 carries per game throughout the season, Hurts will still break the 800-yard rushing mark this season.
2. Improves To 58 Percent Passing
Hurts needs to make some improvements as a passer. Knowing he is the starter going into the season, hopefully, he puts in the work to get that done. In college, he worked relentlessly at Alabama and Oklahoma to turn into more than just a running quarterback and it paid off.
Hurts completed 65.1 percent of his passes in college, including 69.7 percent in his final season at Oklahoma. He didn’t find nearly the same success in the NFL, completing only 52 percent of his passes. This season, with some experience, he will jump up to at least 58 percent passing.
The offense will be catered to his skill-set and he will have a full offseason to get fully acclimated. Had the Eagles been able to land a premier WR in free agency, such as Kenny Golladay, that number would have jumped up to at least 60 percent.
1. Does Not Start Every Game
The Eagles showed the utmost confidence in Jalen Hurts by not aggressively pursuing another quarterback this offseason. They traded down in the draft and signed Joe Flacco to be his backup. However, they may have made a mistake not getting a more viable backup, as they will see playing time this season.
Given his playing style, and the NFL expanding the season to 17 regular season games, it would be a minor miracle if Hurts starts and finishes all 17 games. Hurts will miss at least two regular season games, putting an already anemic-looking Eagles’ offense in an even tougher spot without their dynamic starting quarterback.
