Philadelphia Eagles 2020 NFL Draft: Final Grades, Analysis and Context

Grade: A-

This will go down as the most controversial pick for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2020 NFL Draft. Less than a year after giving Carson Wentz a four year/$128 million deal, they draft a quarterback like Jalen Hurts in the second round? What is going on?

Many fans’ confusion and anger were probably assuaged after hearing Roseman’s digital Q+A immediately after the draft pick. Drafting the Oklahoma journeyman quarterback was more about drafting for value and less about need.

On paper, there is a lot to like about Hurts. He has played in the College Football National Championships an incredible four seasons in a row. He led Alabama to the Championship game in 2016 (and lost), again in 2017 (won, after being replaced halfway through), was brought off the bench to play in the 2018 Championship game (again, lost) and made the first round of the National Playoffs last season with the Sooners (thrice, loss).

While his record in Championship games isn’t phenomenal, just getting there is an achievement all on its own. Most college teams have to go undefeated in the regular season to play in the Championship semi-finals. His final college win record is 39-4, with two of those losses coming in the playoffs. Hurts even finished second in the 2019 Heisman Trophy voting.

Hurts finished his college career throwing 9,477 yards and 80 touchdowns to just 20 interceptions. In 2019, Hurts had the best season of his career from a statistical perspective, finishing with an increased completion percentage, yards, and 32-touchdowns. He took being benched for Tua Tagovailoa in the Championship game humbly, never complaining, always offering to help the quarterback that had out-played him on the roster, including backing him up in 2018, playing sporadically throughout the season.

But despite those statistical achievements, Hurts is not considered pro-ready, which is why he fell in the 2020 NFL Draft to the latter part of the second round. His accuracy downfield is less than ideal, his pocket presence is spotty and he tends to hold onto the ball a bit too long. His ability to tuck the ball and run is impressive, but he is not nearly as talented doing that as other quarterbacks in the NFL have done in recent years.

Roseman gave a plethora of reasons why he drafted Hurts, but the biggest reason that stands out is his value. The Philadelphia Eagles have always over-committed to the quarterback position, making it a key part of their roster’s identity every season. They won a Super Bowl because the front office had the foresight to bring in a veteran quarterback to backup Wentz. After trading up to get Wentz in 2016, the team replaced those lost picks by trading Sam Bradford for a first and a fourth-round pick. Having multiple starting-caliber quarterbacks on the roster brings a ton of value to the team, in draft picks, and in games won.

Hurts brings value to the Philadelphia Eagles offense in ways other than being a starter. Head coach Doug Pederson is considered a creative offensive mind and the number of special plays he could scheme up for Hurts would be impressive. Pederson even hinted that Hurts could be used as a runner or receiver, as having two quarterbacks on the field is a great way to confuse defenses and get yards. Roseman and Pederson made sure to reiterate during an interview that Wentz is the starter and they have no plans of replacing him with Hurts.

Every Wentz injury has come off unforeseen accidents that are part of the game. But not having a reliable backup in 2019 cost the Philadelphia Eagles a chance to play in the Divisional Round. Having a quarterback like Hurts on the bench won’t hurt the team.

Roseman gets an A-minus for this pick because, while drafting Hurts is a smart move, it was also an incredibly expensive contingency plan to buy. There are multiple starting quarterbacks unsigned today, players who very recently were starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Roseman likes to think of the team as a quarterback factory, but in reality, drafting a backup in the second round is a luxury typically available only to stacked rosters.

Either Hurts will have to replace Wentz during his rookie contract or be traded for a first-round pick for this decision to pay off. Looking at the players drafted after Hurts showed a line up of several quality starters, at positions the team needed to address in the 2020 NFL Draft. If the team has glaring deficiencies on the roster during the 2020 season, you can believe critics will cite this draft pick as its cause. While that isn’t a particularly nuanced view of the situation, it is certainly understandable.

There is another scenario most people aren’t discussing. Which is Hurts could come in, completely blow the coaching staff away, fix his disadvantages on the field and eventually win the starting position. For all the roadblocks put in Hurts’ way, he has always found a way to get back up and try again. Hurts is smart, talented and driven. That is a strong combination in the NFL, where winning is the only antidote for irrelevancy.

For all the criticism of this pick, it is still a smart choice. If all goes right, Hurts would add another dimension to the team’s offensive playbook. He is a winning quarterback who can step in at any time and be a reliable starter. He brings incredible trade value during negotiations and would settle an important position on the roster for the next five years.

What other player in the second round could offer that much value to the organization?