Jalen Hurts facing ‘immense pressure’ in 2024 season
The Eagles are under some significant scrutiny after Philly did a free fall through the final half of last season, tumbling from a Super Bowl favorite to questions whether they were playoff worthy. And because Jalen Hurts was the quarterback, fans blamed him more than others.
Whether the criticism was justified is another story. He did throw a career-high 15 interceptions, so that played a part in the Eagles starting 10-1 only to lose six of their final seven.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports ranked the top five NFC quarterbacks under the most pressure. It’s a popular topic as NFL training camps begin opening across the country. CBS Sports not only believes Hurts belongs on the list, but he tops it.
The reasons for the ranking?
“One year after landing a then-record $255 million deal, and two years after going toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, Hurts isn’t going anywhere. He’s still got top-tier mettle as the even-keeled face of the Eagles. Still, there is immense pressure on Philadelphia to capitalize on an all-world skill group and return to title contention following a historic 2023 collapse.
“That starts with Hurts, whose more mercurial follow-up to 2022’s breakout helped facilitate Kellen Moore’s arrival as the new offensive coordinator. Hurts’ trajectory in the new system could determine the fate of coach Nick Sirianni as well.”
Yep, no pressure. You could possibly lose your starting job and get your boss fired. And it’ll all play out in front of a very passionate Eagles fan base.
Here’s another telling detail. Three of the five quarterbacks on the NFC list are from East division teams. Dak Prescott ranks fourth, while Daniel Jones of the Giants is fifth.
The Eagles did help their offense in the off season. They signed former Giants running back Saquon Barkley in free agency. Philly also gave star receiver A.J. Brown more money, signing him to a three-year deal that’ll pay $32 million a season.
The Eagles concentrated mostly on defense in free agency and the draft. Their top two draft picks were cornerback Quinyon Mitchall and Cooper DeJean, who can play either corner or safety. They also welcomed back DB C.J Gardner Johnson, who spent the last season with the Lions.
But it all starts at quarterback. Hurts did record career highs in passing yards (3,858) and touchdowns. He scored 23 via the pass and 15 on the ground. But what hurt him the most were turnovers. He threw 15 interceptions. And he fumbled nine times, losing five.
Can the Eagles turn it around? Most NFL analysts believe so. Bucky Brooks, an analyst for Fox Sports, ranks the Eagles roster as the second best in the NFL behind only the 49ers. Brooks said the Eagles are “poised to light up the scoreboard.”
He added “if the offensive line continues to dominate opponents behind the stellar play from Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailotioi on the edges, the Eagles could control the game with Jalen Hurts and Co. utilizing various run-pass option concepts to keep defenders guessing at the line.”
So Hurts and his teammates will be under pressure to prove that last year’s record was an aberration. Players report Tuesday.