Former Jalen Hurts teammates that may welcome a reunion and one that got away

Jalen Hurts might be the best recruiting tool that the Eagles have to lure free agents. He also knows quite a few of them personally.

Relationships mean everything in football at every level. That’s one of those lesser-mentioned theories we remember when Brian Johnson and Jalen Hurts reunite with the Philadelphia Eagles or Nick Rallis leaves the City of Brotherly Love to join Jonathan Gannon in the desert. Often, when young head coaches build their staffs, they turn to the guys that went through the fire with them. Then, as older and more seasoned coaches, they, at times, try to keep players they trust on speed dial. How else did LeSean McCoy end up in Kansas City and win a Super Bowl with the Chiefs?

These days, star players in every NFL franchise can serve as great recruiters. Guys WANT to play with Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith just as much as they want to be a part of the culture that the Eagles permeate.

Jalen and A.J. were never collegiate teammates, but that wasn’t due to QB1’s lack of effort. Jalen did his best to convince A.J. to sign with The Tide, but eventually, Brown determined he’d take his talents to Oxford and play for the Ole Miss Rebels. Fast forward, and their friendship continues. Brown wanted to join the Birds so he could play with Philly’s QB1.

Reunions won’t always work. Running back Kennedy Brooks was a teammate of Jalen’s at Oklahoma with the Sooners. He joined the Eagles roster last season as an undrafted rookie with some fanfare, but so far, there have been no fireworks.

That doesn’t mean there can’t be, or that he and Trey Sermon can’t contribute this season’s success. Honestly, we hope they do.

Free agency approaches. Howie Roseman will need to work some magic if Philly hopes to add some pieces, but with a recruiting tool like Hurts, there may be some guys who are already interested, his former teammates for instance. See? It’s all about relationships.