Opinion: Is Jalen Hurts a fraud?

Jalen Hurts has come under scrutiny throughout his past couple of seasons at the Philadelphia Eagles due to his lack of production.

This is unusual considering Hurts and the Eagles won the Super Bowl last season, yet NFL fans criticize Hurts daily.

The reason for this is because of the overall team talent. The Eagles have an offensive powerhouse with running back Saquon Barkley, wide receiver AJ Brown, and wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

Due to Barkley’s insane talent, Hurts hasn't had the opportunity to show his own ability. However, during their game against the Denver Broncos, Jalen Hurts helped the Eagles with 208 passing yards, 38 more than Bo Nix.

However, they still lost the game against the Broncos and once again against the New York Giants. This just fueled the heat against Hurts.

Fans blame Hurts when they lose, even though he had a total of 283 passing yards against the Giants.

Many people don’t take into account his ability to run the ball himself. When challenged with a blitz, he can run out of the pocket and facilitate.

For example, he has 354 rushing yards so far this year, while Saquon Barkley has 325 as a running back. His ability to create after being challenged is a dynamic trait.

When evaluating a strong quarterback, they must have the ability to throw and also run when needed. Based on Hurts' stats, he has both abilities.

Hurts threw for a total of 2,903 yards last season. Though he has fewer yards than his peak season in 2023 with 3,858 yards, he is still able to make a play when needed.

Yet, fans still need someone to blame, so they blame the quarterback, which happens to be Hurts.

However, in comparison to other successful QBs, Hurts isn’t too far off. Josh Allen has a total of 1,217 passing yards, only 45 more than Hurts.

It's hard to criticize Hurts when he competes with other successful teams.

Even when Barkley takes over games with his ability to run, Hurts also helps by making plays to their wide receivers. Brown has a total of 274 yards, while Smith has 321, showing Hurts’ ability to create plays downfield.

Without Hurts, the Eagles would not be able to pull out wins against strong teams like the Chiefs. Their ability to compete with the Chiefs, the Cowboys, and the Rams shows they must have a strong QB.

Without a strong QB, WR and RB, there’s no way they could compete at such a high level. Proving that Hurts isn't as weak as fans perceive.

However, someone must be held accountable for their recent losses against the Broncos and the Giants. Hurts is the easy target, yet he holds the team together.

If you can’t rely on a QB, a team can easily fall apart. By having a strong and willing QB like Hurts, the Eagles can compete to potentially have a playoff run.

By the end of the season, fans can probably make a solid decision on if Hurts is a quality QB.

If the Eagles can go back-to-back, it’ll be hard to have a conversation on Hurts’ ability to facilitate.

Erin Wilder is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email eew5390@psu.edu.