Eagles Jalen Hurts Disrespected on PFF QB Rankings?
A year ago, Philadelphia Eagles fans would have been ecstatic if presented with the idea that Jalen Hurts would be universally seen as a top-10 quarterback entering the 2023 NFL season.
But a lot has changed in the last 12 months.
After finishing runner-up in NFL MVP voting in 2022, most quarterback countdowns now have Hurts in the top five. So it will be taken as a slight by some that Pro Football Focus "only" had Hurts at No. 7 on their 2023 quarterback rankings:
"Hurts was phenomenal in 2022, but the hardest part of that kind of play in the NFL is sustaining it,” PFF wrote. “Lamar Jackson one spot above him is a great example of that. Hurts has taken big steps forward every season of his career, and if he has another one in the tank, then he is ranked too low at No. 7. Hurts averaged 8.0 yards per attempt last season and added almost 800 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground."
Most people wouldn't argue with the top three on PFF's list -- although their order may be a little different -- of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. Even Justin Herbert at No. 4 hasn't had the same type of team success at Hurts, but his immense talent is clear.
Where it really gets interesting is at No. 5 with Aaron Rodgers. No one is questioning whether Rodgers is one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history -- of course he is. But Hurts is coming off a better season, and it's tough to project what Rodgers, who will turn 40 in December, will be in his first season with the New York Jets.
Former NFL MVP Lamar Jackson at No. 6 also creates an interesting debate. On one hand, Jackson has played in 24 of a possible 34 regular season games the past two seasons. On the other hand, his contract is now taken care of, Odell Beckham Jr. was added via free agency and new offensive coordinator Todd Monken figures to open up the passing game more than his Greg Roman, his predecessor, did.
So Hurts being at No. 7 on this list isn't something worth losing sleep over. But there's a good chance that it's the floor for the fourth-year quarterback on most 2023 countdowns.
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