Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts enters the 2026 season facing questions about his place among the league’s elite signal-callers.
A recent ESPN survey of anonymous NFL executives, coaches, and scouts placed him at No. 17 overall, well outside the top 10 or even top 15 that many fans in Philadelphia might have anticipated.
The ranking sparked discussion, especially after what was widely viewed as a challenging year for the passing game. To understand the reasoning, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler appeared on 97.5 The Fanatic and offered insight into how league personnel view the Eagles’ quarterback.
“There is a great deal of respect in the league for Jalen Hurts, for his intangibles, for his toughness. He throws a great deep ball, and he does a lot of things well,” Fowler began.
He went on to frame the evaluation as one centered on intimidation and game-planning priorities. “This is an exercise in fear. Fear in the NFL is currency. Do you fear your opponent? When you gameplan against the Eagles’ offense, does Hurts keep you up at night? To be a top QB, you have to be number one on that scouting report. When you play the Eagles, it’s Saquon Barkley and the running game.”
This perspective highlights how Barkley’s standout 2,000-yard season in 2024 elevated the ground attack, often shifting defensive focus away from Hurts himself.
While that support benefits the team, it can sometimes work against individual quarterback evaluations in a league that prizes explosive passing threats.
Fowler added nuance without dismissing Hurts’ abilities. “That is not to diminish Hurts, but he doesn’t have the same fear factor as the top guys. I am a little surprised that he is as low as he is. But in the simplest form, the Eagles were in the bottom 3rd in passing offense the last two years. It is hard to have a top 12, even a top 15 QB, with that metric.”
The concerns around Hurts are not entirely unfounded given the Eagles’ aerial struggles in recent seasons. Yet his track record shows a winner who delivers results even when traditional stats don’t always pop. During the team’s 12-3 Super Bowl-winning campaign, he threw for fewer than 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns while posting a career-best 68.7% completion rate.
In 2025, Hurts surpassed 3,000 passing yards and set a personal high with 25 touchdowns, though his completion percentage dipped below 65% for the first time since his rookie year. His diminished mobility as a runner also played a role in lowering that perceived threat level around the league.
Ultimately, the conversation reflects broader debates about what defines a top quarterback in today’s NFL—raw passing production versus winning and leadership.
As the Eagles prepare for the new season under their updated offensive scheme, Hurts will have another opportunity to silence the doubters and reestablish himself among the game’s best.
