Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma, QB
Height – 6’1” Weight – 222 lbs. Hand Size – 9.75”
Arm – 31” Wingspan – 77” Age – 21
With the 53rd Selection in the 2020 draft Hurts finds his new home in Philadelphia. The fifth QB off the board goes in the middle of the second round. I expect Hurts to be able to take his time developing behind Carson Wentz while also providing an insurance policy for his many injuries. A dual-threat QB like Hurts will produce fantasy value immediately when he sees the field due to his rushing floor.
Jalen Hurts was apart of the Crimson Tide for his first three seasons. Performing well as a freshman only to find himself splitting time with fellow draft mate Tua Tagovailoa in his sophomore and junior seasons, he transferred to Oklahoma upon Kyler Murray’s departure. His senior season he was finally able to showcase his talents with the Sooners. Hurts has played for two formidable college offenses and has excelled, yet some teams have inquired about him switching positions. I believe he has the makeup of a starting-caliber quarterback in this league for years to come.
Jalen Hurts during his last season threw for almost 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns. Without another elite-level QB talent on the same roster Hurts proved what he is able to do with his arm. He can make touch passes under pressure and makes defenses defend his ability to break loose from the pocket when coverage is tight. Hurts has room to progress as a passer, but with the ever-changing NFL, his mobility offers teams elite upside at the position.
His passing statistics aren’t overwhelming outside of his last season in which he was able to perform as the only QB for Oklahoma. A 69% completion rate during the 2019 season was a good indicator that he makes good decisions, but the offense didn’t pass as often as most NCAA teams did ranking 58th in that category. Oklahoma ran plenty of designed runs and options for Hurts to succeed.
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Two yards shy of 1,300 rushing yards and 20 rushing TDs is an accomplishment in itself as well as his passing totals during the season. It is out of the question to see him post totals like that against NFL defenses, but even half of that amount would certainly boost him into your starting lineups for dynasty. Jalen Hurts ran a 4.59-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine showing his speed. I expect him to creep up in ADP come rookie draft time seeing that he was already starting to get buzz leading up to this year’s draft. Rushing quarterbacks have proven their worth in fantasy and they will no longer be had for cheap.
Reagor and Hurts at the beginning of this draft it seems like the Eagles offense may be preparing for a new future dealing with so many Carson Wentz injuries, which prohibited him from playing throughout the playoffs and the Superbowl championship year of 2018. Hurts will offer the ability to perhaps take the field as a red zone threat from the backfield in trick plays or option plays, relieving Wentz from unnecessary hits. He won’t be more than a mid-second-rounder in superflex drafts, but will potentially be the replacement in Doug Pederson‘s offense if Wentz is unable to stay healthy.
Taking time to develop as a passer behind Wentz is a great scenario, and he will be surrounded by weapons when he does take the field, but until then do not consider him more than a Taysom Hill-level player in his rookie season and perhaps even longer. A curveball by the Eagles but it shows that the NFL is changing and the best coaches change with it.
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