Jalen Hurts Proves He’s Value Huge Contract Extension in Eagles’ Natty Bowl Loss

The Philadelphia Eagles came up rapid in Natty Bowl LVII at Narrate Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, dropping 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs. With that acknowledged, Jalen Hurts dazzled on the sport’s ultimate stage, doing all he may to present his team a raffle at victory.

It modified into a game by which Hurts confirmed his sky-high cost, demonstrating the sizable doable Philadelphia has with him below heart. Despite the loss, Hurts and the Eagles will must possess a shining future together—equipped the team rewards him handsomely this offseason.

Hurts went 27-of-38 passing for 304 yards and a touchdown and tied Hall of Status operating lend a hand Terrell Davis for a Natty Bowl file of three rushing touchdowns. He additionally eclipsed Steve McNair’s file for per chance the most rushing yards by a quarterback in the Natty Bowl, converted on a two-point conversion and had a couple of fourth-down conversions on a pressure that resulted in a discipline purpose before halftime.

No, Hurts didn’t play a ultimate game. Notably, he lost a fumble that Chiefs linebacker Sever Bolton scooped up and returned 36 yards for a acquire to tie the sport at 14 in the 2d quarter.

Nonetheless, Philadelphia seemed cherish the better team by the main half and tied the sport at 35 in the fourth quarter attributable to Hurts’ highlight-powerful efficiency. Overall, as a passer and ball-provider, he accounted for all four of the Eagles’ touchdowns, finishing the sport with 374 mixed passing and rushing yards.

Like most Natty Bowl contenders who tumble rapid, the Eagles must fetch a formula to create on a bold season. The front place of job may aloof originate by giving Hurts a wide contract extension in the approaching weeks.

With so grand buzz around quarterbacks across the league, ESPN’s Dan Graziano weighed in on Hurts’ future:

“I quiz the Eagles to work to connect quarterback Jalen Hurts to an extension early in the offseason. They know the impress has seemingly gone to $50 million a twelve months or extra, and with Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and the Chargers’ Justin Herbert additionally extension-eligible this summer season, and a Lamar Jackson megadeal aloof imaginable, the costs on the head of the QB market may ratchet up speedily.”

Hurts’ market cost will handiest amplify over time as other young, ascending quarterbacks attach fresh contracts. So, Eagles standard supervisor Howie Roseman may aloof to find an early originate with his signal-caller as Hurts heads into the final twelve months of his rookie contract.

If the Eagles strike a fresh contain Hurts, they will seemingly settle on to let some of their impending free brokers stroll in March. Among the many most necessary avid gamers, Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Miles Sanders, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Isaac Seumalo and James Bradberry possess expiring deals.

On the opposite hand, the Eagles completely possess their quarterback and face of the franchise in Hurts. At the largest situation, he’s worth a high-of-the-market contract, that will come on the expense of others on the roster.

Eagles fans may keep in mind when the team signed Hurts’ predecessor, Carson Wentz, to a $128 million extension in 2019 and shake their heads in field in regards to the risk of paying wide money for yet another quarterback.

In equity to Hurts, he made a mountainous third-twelve months leap. Last twelve months, he helped lead the Eagles to the playoffs, throwing for 3,144 yards, 16 touchdowns and 9 interceptions with a 61.3 percent completion price in 15 begins. This twelve months, he executed with 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions with a 66.5 percent completion price in the an identical different of begins. In lend a hand-to-lend a hand seasons, he rushed for 760-plus yards and 10-plus touchdowns.

Hurts additionally generated MVP buzz before he sprained his shoulder, and he aloof earned a vote. After a divisional round fetch over the Unusual York Giants, Eagles head coach Sever Sirianni in comparison his quarterback to Michael Jordan, significantly his intangibles.

“As well to he’s whisk the soccer, to boot as he’s thrown the soccer, finding out defenses, lawful throws, to boot as he’s accomplished all that, what you peek first about [Hurts] is his will to fetch, his competitive pressure.

“That comparability is extra or much less in that aspect of it. Again, modified into I around Michael Jordan? No, however I modified into ready to budge wanting from afar when I modified into a baby, however then additionally you is seemingly to be ready to budge wanting these documentaries and you peek that ordinary denominator of those issues—the main component you asked me about Jalen, I continually advise about all those issues, your total intangibles that he has.”

In step with Hurts’ hiss, efficiency at some stage in the last two years and what he brings to the team beyond his manufacturing numbers, what extra can he produce to prove he’s worth shut to $50 million per twelve months? Hurts checks your total boxes. Moreover, at lawful 24 years dilapidated, he’s aloof on the upward thrust with room to enhance in the approaching seasons.

Last offseason, the Arizona Cardinals signed quarterback Kyler Murray to a 5-twelve months, $230.5 million extension, and he’s averaging $46.1 million per twelve months. Imagine that the Cardinals haven’t won a postseason game (0-1) with him on the helm.

Along with necessary hiss between his 2d and third seasons, Hurts has helped lead the Eagles to the playoffs in lend a hand-to-lend a hand terms, together with Sunday’s Natty Bowl appearance. He on the subject of propelled his team to a title victory over what appears to be like cherish a rising dynasty in Kansas City.

Even in a crushing loss, the Eagles can peek the stardom in Hurts as he continues to exceed expectations as a 2d-round take hold of of Oklahoma in 2020.

As we noticed in Sunday’s loss, Hurts is extra than lawful an environment friendly passer who can possess defenders budge away out on foot. He can additionally whine defenses with vertical throws over the head. Both wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith hauled in passes for 45 yards in serious moments of the sport. Hurts has additionally constructed a bold rapport with tight terminate Dallas Goedert this season.

While the Eagles may lose heart Jason Kelce to retirement, and they would not possess the cap dwelling to re-attach Seumalo, Hurts’ dynamic playmaking capability can hide holes across the offensive line as interior lineman Cam Jurgens gets as much as the trace subsequent twelve months.

Hurts can produce it all, and he’s lawful getting began in the early stages of his profession. But, the Eagles possess already obtained an commence Natty Bowl window with him. He’s worth every penny of a wide extension, and Roseman will seemingly produce the correct component and pay the actual person.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher File. You may note him on Twitter @MoeMoton.