Colin Cowherd Makes Opinion On Jalen Hurts' Ranking Clear

Despite leading the Philadelphia Eagles to two Super Bowls, including a win in 2022, quarterback Jalen Hurts was ranked only ninth among NFL quarterbacks in a poll of league executives, coaches, and scouts. Sports commentator Colin Cowherd expressed intrigue by this ranking and defended it on his show "The Herd."

Cowherd argued that statistics suggest Hurts isn't as impressive upon closer examination as he might appear at first glance. He believes Hurts is a good quarterback but attributes the Eagles' success more to the team's coaching philosophy than Hurts' individual passing skills. Cowherd specifically stated that Hurts is not an elite pocket passer, quoting, "The Eagles basically had one of those philosophical resets and what they decided was, 'This offense is great as long as we pass the ball fewer times.'"

While acknowledging Hurts might not be an elite passer like Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow, the summary notes he has consistently succeeded in getting the Eagles to the playoffs. In four seasons as a full-time starter, Hurts has led the Eagles to the playoffs each time, reached the Super Bowl twice, and won the NFC East division title in both Super Bowl seasons. His career statistics include a 65.4% completion rate and a 45-17 record as a starter.

However, the summary points out limitations in Hurts' passing production: he has never thrown for 4,000 yards or 25 touchdowns in a single season. His mobility compensates for this, but it also leads to criticism that he is a less polished passer. Furthermore, it suggests the Eagles' success in 2024 might be more attributable to star running back Saquon Barkley than any significant improvement in Hurts' passing abilities.