Will the Eagles Draft a New QB or Turn to Jalen Hurts?

The Eagles entered the offseason a hot mess. Not only did they just fire their Super Bowl winning head coach, but they had significant issues with their franchise QB Carson Wentz, too many injured players, poor depth, and nearly $50 million dollars over the salary cap.

Philly’s shot callers have begun the arduous task of rebuilding a team that has plummeted since winning the Super Bowl three years ago. That started with trading Carson Wentz to the Colts for a third round pick in this year’s draft and a conditional second round pick in the 2022 Draft.

Reports are coming out that Philly will part ways with several older and high price players in addition to Desean Jackson who they recently cut. However, that brings us back to what the team will do at the quarterback position for the upcoming season.

Let’s take a closer look at the possibility of Philly selecting a QB with their 6^th pick in this year’s draft or going with last year’s 2^nd round pick Jalen Hurts.

Will the Eagles Draft a QB With the No. 6 Overall Pick?

• Yes (+350)
• No (-600)

These odds have seen some movement since the trading of Carson Wentz. Online sportsbooks opened with the Yes option listed at +550 and the No option listed at -1000 at BetOnline.ag. As you can see, these odds have lowered in favor of the possibility that the Eagles could draft a QB at #6 overall.

If Philly stays at six in the draft, they could look to take QB Zach Wilson from BYU or Trey Lance from North Dakota State. It would be ironic if they took Lance considering he played at the same alma mater as Carson Wentz.

Furthermore, there’s reportedly a chance that Philly could move up in the draft and go after Wilson or Justin Fields from Ohio State if they believe that neither of those QBs will be available at the six spot.

First, the Eagles have too many holes on the roster and no money to sign free agents. So, they will have to add more talent to the roster through the draft. That means the team won’t be trading up.

But, I do like the idea of trading down for Philly to accumulate more draft picks. It makes no sense to draft another QB when they have Hurts on the roster in what will be a rebuilding year. Let the 2^nd year QB have a full offseason and regular season to showcase what he can do.

Take the extra draft picks and build up a healthy roster around him. Start by improving the offensive line. If I were the Eagles, I would be selecting offensive linemen in the first few rounds. This will not only help protect Hurts, but it will also help to improve the run game as well.

For this prop bet, go with the “No” option. Not only do I see the team not staying in the 6^th spot, I also believe they will not draft a QB in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Jalen Hurts Total Starts (Must Start Week 1 for Bet to Count)

• Over 12.5 starts (NA)
• Under 12.5 starts (NA)

Since I don’t see the Eagles drafting a QB, we can now turn our attention to Jalen Hurts.

Hurts came in last year and went 1-3 as a starter with 6 TDs, 4 INTs, 1,061 passing yards, 354 rushing yards, and 3 rushing TDs. He showed remarkable athleticism, breathed new life into the franchise, and was a dual threat that Philly hasn’t had since Randall Cunningham.

The team would be better off if they brought in a veteran QB to back up Hurts while giving the offense over to the talented player.

As I stated above, Philly really needs to improve their offensive line. If they don’t do this, it won’t matter who is playing QB. Yet, Hurts’ ability to scramble will help when the line breaks down, which is another reason why he should be the man for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021.

Hurts showed poise last year in the pocket and in the face of pressure. His entire demeanor and approach before and after he became the starter was nothing short of impressive. He carried himself like a starter and a true professional.

With the right attitude, and plenty of athleticism, Hurts is a playmaker that can really help the team and the offense.

Another big reason why I believe Hurts will be the starter this year is because of his contract. Hurts is still on a rookie deal, so he only counts $1.36 million dollars this season. His highest tag comes in 2023 when it’s a meager $1.91 million dollars.

Since the Eagles are significantly over the cap and the quarterback is the highest paid position in the league, rolling with Hurts is too financially beneficial for the Eagles to dismiss.

For this prop bet, go with Over 12.5 games. Keep in mind, Hurts has to start Week 1 in order for the action to take place on this bet. So, even if you take the “yes” option and the Eagles draft a QB, if Hurts doesn’t start Week 1 then this bet will be cancelled.

Since I believe Hurts will be a starter this year, I am going with Over 12.5 games. I see the team riding the Hurts’ express for the entire 2021 season unless he gets injured.