Jalen Hurts' contract is still earning the Eagles high praise
Jalen Hurts' contract is still earning the Eagles high praise Henry McKenna of Fox Sports praised the Eagles for Jalen Hurts' contract calling it one of the biggest discounts in the NFL
In just 77 games, 66 as the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback, Jalen Hurts has undoubtedly put a dent in the franchise's history and record book. Selected during the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, he has surely made more than his fair share of pundits eat their words en route to two Super Bowl appearances to conclude the last three seasons of professional football.
His most recent, if you haven't heard, ended favorably. He was named MVP of the big game. Twice, he has outplayed the greatest quarterback of our time on the grandest stage, but Super Bowl 59 gave him some hardware to drive the point home.
Many complained of his high selection over five years ago and the birth of a 'quarterback factory' as Philadelphia already had Carson Wentz signed to a long-term extension. Credit pro football's most well-run organization for being forward-thinking. Who knew? We just weren't ready for the Eagles to be right and for the rest of us to be wrong.
Jalen Hurts enters the second year of his extension, and the rave reviews continue.
When Eagles vice president/general manager Howie Roseman selected Jalen Hurts with the 53rd selection of the 2020 draft, the feedback was, shall we say, unflattering. When he inked Jalen to a massive five-year, $255 million extension with $180 million guaranteed, the feedback wasn't as harsh, but it was relatively consistent.
'It makes sense. After all, he led Philadelphia to the doorstep of Super Bowl glory.' There is, however, a question worth asking... 'Can he live up to it?'
Jalen's new groove made him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time until Lamar Jackson took that title for himself ten days later. The answer to the above question... Yes, things appear to be working out quite nicely.
Henry McKenna of FOX Sports recently evaluated some of the NFL's mega QB contracts, and the Hurts deal is still earning rave reviews:
"Things change fast. If you had asked me about four weeks into last season, I would have said this deal was an overpay. But here we are. Hurts has a Lombardi Trophy and a Super Bowl MVP. The QB has been to two Super Bowls in three years. There's a chance this is the beginning of an Eagles dynasty."
He grades Jalen's deal as a 'discount': "Hurts' best game of the season was arguably his Super Bowl performance. He was 17-of-22 for 221 passing yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He had 11 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown.
Ask any team around the league if they'd pay their QB what the Eagles paid Hurts to finish the year with a Super Bowl MVP. Every single one would sign on."
Most would agree. Jalen's cap hit last season was $13,558,800. He re-established himself as one of the game's great quarterbacks. He's led his organization back to the mountaintop, and he did so in year one of the five-year extension.
The best part about all of this is that he has the potential to improve. Ask around, and though the theories once conflicted, most now align. Things are going well for the Birds, and one of the first projects in their quarterback factory.
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