Before any major predictions are made about the Philadelphia Eagles and what they’ll be able to do in 2021, a lot has to happen. Sure, everyone already has their theories, but it also has to be taken into consideration that this franchise hasn’t even participated in the NFL Draft yet. Perhaps we should allow this team to put a roster together first?
If there’s some pessimism on your part, trust us. Everyone can understand why. There isn’t a position grouping on this roster that makes fans exude total confidence, but despite all of the question marks, at least we’ve figured out the quarterback position (sort of).
As Reuben Frank put it on a recent episode of the Eagle Eye Podcast that he co-hosts with fellow NBC Sports Philadelphia mainstay Dave Zangaro, Philadelphia’s decision to trade back in the NFL Draft’s first round from six to 12 taught us two things about where the Birds stand with Jalen Hurts.
First, we can hang our hat on any theory that revolves around the fact that the Philadelphia Eagles have settled on Hurts as their starting quarterback in 2021. Second, none of us can state with total confidence that this is how things will remain past the upcoming season.
Right now, however, Jalen Hurts appears to have a season-long audition. Newly acquired Joe Flacco, who grew up in New Jersey and played at Delaware will serve as the backup and step in should anything happen.
Here are some news and notes if you’re a Philadelphia Eagles fan.
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably also seen that there may have been some interest from the Birds that was pointed in BYU quarterback Zach Wilson‘s direction. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted on Friday that there may have been some interest by Philly to move up from the sixth pick to the third. That tweet has since been removed. In its place, Rapoport states the following.
One thing is very clear: Zach Wilson will go high in this draft. At No. 2? Very possible. And hard to see anyone having enough ammo to move up. https://t.co/U7gAKiJBhj
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 26, 2021
Perhaps Philly was indeed interested in Wilson but decided to move back when they resigned themselves to the fact that the possibility of him falling past the New York Jets at number two was unlikely? We’ll never know. Heck, we don’t even know if the Jets want Wilson, but here’s what we can say (we think).
Jalen Hurts has a 16-game audition to prove that he’s the future in Philadelphia. If things don’t work out, the Eagles might be back in the market for a quarterback come 2022. It’s business as usual at the NovaCare Complex.