NFL DC Says Eagles 'Tried to Throw It More' But Jalen Hurts 'Could Not Do That'

One NFL defensive coordinator still isn't sold on the passing abilities of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

"They tried to throw it more early in the year," the defensive coordinator told The Athletic's Mike Sando as part of Sando's annual QB tier rankings. "He could not do that, so they said, 'Screw it, run the ball 40 times a game.'"

A former general manager had a similarly critical assessment.

"Hurts is always a tough one for me," they said. "I think he is a 3. They are very talented around him, and he is not as consistent as a passer. They have a strong defense, great playmakers, great offensive line. He is able to function that way. But I don't know that he is the one that elevates them. That is not a slight."

One offensive coordinator called the two-time Pro Bowler "a really good player on a team with a bunch of really good players."

Thirty-five of Sando's 50 respondents put Hurts into Tier 2, and his vote average tied him for ninth at the position with the Houston Texans' C.J. Stroud.

That's where ESPN's Jeremy Fowler ranked him, too, after canvassing executives, coaches and scouts from around the NFL.

At least in terms of vaulting into the elite group of quarterbacks, winning a Super Bowl wasn't a crowning achievement for Hurts. Looking at the raw numbers, it's not hard to see why.

Hurts had his fewest passing yards (2,903) as a full-time starter in 2024. He eclipsed 250 yards through the air in just four of his 15 regular-season starts and didn't reach that threshold in any of Philly's four playoff games.

To a point raised by the anonymous defensive coordinator, Hurts had 30-plus attempts in each of the first four weeks and then had one such game the rest of the way.

The Eagles found a winning formula with their franchise QB. He set personal bests in completion percentage (68.7) and passer rating (103.7), and his 8.42 adjusted yards per attempt matched his previous high, per Pro Football Reference.

Still, Hurts may not strike a lot of fear in opposing defenses with his arm alone. Contrast his production with that of Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson (4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns), who has evolved under offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

As long as the Eagles keep contending for Super Bowls, they may not care all that much about how Hurts is perceived by rival teams.