Jalen Hurts NFL Draft 2020: Scouting Report for Philadelphia Eagles' Pick
QBย Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
STRENGTHS
โHigh-character leader who guided Alabama and Oklahoma to College Football Playoff berths.ย
โDual-threat quarterback who rushed for nearly 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns at Oklahoma while throwing for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns.ย
โCarves up defenses on intermediate and short passes; excellent timing with enough arm strength to fit the ball into tight windows.
โEfficient passer who doesnโt turn the ball over.
โPowerful runner who has speed, vision and balance in the open field.
โTough, durable, team-first player who handled benching at Alabama with class.
โVery good thrower on the move; can create on off-platform throws.
WEAKNESSES
โDoesnโt play with much urgency in the pocket while reading the defense and will have to speed up his process.
โArm motion is stiff and delayed, but showed improvements at the Senior Bowl and combine.
โMust learn to play from within the pocket; has a Baker Mayfield-like habit of leaving clean pockets early.
โFumbles a concern on the run and in the pocket.
โGoes through streaks of poor accuracy, largely due to mechanics. Has to learn to trust his arm and rip it more often instead of stopping his motion and analyzing.ย
โArm strength is good but not great, which causes some passes to die.
OVERALL
Hurts wonโt be a fit for everyone, but as the NFL moves from 6โ5โ pocket passers to more athletic, creative quarterbacks, he is an intriguing option. Hurts isnโt a conventional Day 1 starter at the position, but he has the tools to be effective early on if he can handle learning on the job. His work at Alabama and Oklahoma plus conversations with coaches and scouts suggest he's capable of evolving on the go like a Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen. Hurtsโ accuracy has to improve, but the right coaches will create a passing attack to highlight his strengths.
GRADE: 85
PRO COMPARISON: Dak Prescott/Taysom Hill
