When it comes to Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts, it's tough to find a more polarizing signal-caller. Time and again, despite the steady stream of criticism year in and year out, Hurts simply keeps his head down, grinds, and ultimately shines when it matters most.
With all the heat thrust upon him in the latest ESPN piece detailing the tiered QB rankings, a far more positive assessment of the overall impact Hurts has on his franchise was presented over at Bleacher Report, as Brad Gagnon dove into ranking the top true franchise players (under the age of 28) who help spearhead their respective franchises. Hurts was ranked third on Gagnon's list.
"Supporting cast, weaponry and system have certainly helped bring Hurts along as a franchise quarterback in Philadelphia, but that doesn't change the fact the uniquely talented and accomplished 27-year-old is exactly that.Â
The three-time Pro Bowler is a former Super Bowl MVP who consistently generates well over 30 passing/rushing touchdowns per season but is also a gunslinger who has thrown a league-high (by a mile) 40 deep touchdown passes in the last four seasons.Â
Hurts is not typical, but he is special."
Leadership, the deep ball, and the threat to run make Hurts a true franchise player
Gagnon doled out high praise indeed for Hurts, listing only NFC East rival Jayden Daniels and New England's Drake Maye above Philly's QB in his top overall franchise player rankings, whose teams can continue to look forward to building around.
While his overall rushing prowess has dipped a bit of late, Hurts remains lethal with the deep ball. As Gagnon pointed out, Hurts has averaged 10 deep touchdown passes per season over his past four years, and the addition of Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator could prompt an even greater spike in that lofty number. With a more diversified aerial attack in the cards, DeVonta Smith and newcomers Dontayvion Wicks and Makai Lemon should be able to test opposing secondaries deep with more frequency, leaving Hurts in a prime position to let loose on more deep shots downfield.
And when Hurts takes deep shots, he converts at an absolutely elite level. As Jeff Kerr with Sports Illustrated noted, Hurts stands as one of the very best deep-ball quarterbacks in the game. His 118.1 passer rating on throws of 25+ yards places him fourth-best in the league, dispelling the notion that he struggles to make teams pay in the passing game.
The fact remains that #1 can - and will - drop daggers downfield, as well as anyone in the game. Look no further than Super Bowl LIX for Exhibit A: Hurts nailed Smith in perfect stride to put the finishing touches on an MVP performance.
Read more: Another former Super Bowl champ goes to bat for Jalen Hurts
This off-season has seen no shortage of chatter from the Hurts' haters, so it's refreshing to see these rankings emerge. He's a true franchise player at the end of the day, and when it boils down to wins and losses, he remains one of the most impactful players in the sport.
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