"I've always been a team-first guy, but I think I'm a quarterback. I think that's that."
This was the answer that Jalen Hurts gave when asked if he was comfortable making the position switch in the NFL.
The Eagles selected Hurts in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL Draft, after refusing to give up that pick in a trade that would have landed a top 3 wideout in the draft class like CeeDee Lamb. With many Eagles fans confused, we are trying to piece together and “sell ourselves” on the pick. Things like “Taysom Hill, and solid back up” are the most common selling points. By why this early? And does Hurts want to play H-Back? Former Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith also backed up the quarterback, saying it is disrespectful to compare him to Hill.
Let’s take a look at Hurts' recent history, when asked this question. It all began with the 2018 National Championship game, where he was pulled at halftime for Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa went on to lead Alabama to a victory and never gave up the reigns. Hurts ended up leaving Tuscaloosa for an opportunity to start at Oklahoma. The only option to start with Alabama was as an H-Back.
Fast forward another year, after Hurts was the Heisman Trophy runner-up, Hurts went through the draft process echoing his desire to play the quarterback position.
This is not a knock against the man, or ball player that Jalen Hurts is. There are not many people that would have dealt with that situation the way he had, and it’s very similar to the situation Carson went through. However, it was the pick where he was selected, that is leaving many Eagles fans scratching their heads.
