Jalen Hurts is one of the very few quarterbacks in the league who have played two Super Bowls, winning one, and also has a Super Bowl MVP to his name. Yet the three-time Pro Bowler enters the 2026 season under as much scrutiny as any quarterback in football.
Philadelphia’s offense regressed badly last year, and Hurts’ individual numbers reflected it. He threw for 3,224 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, six interceptions, a career-low 7.1 yards per attempt, and a 64.8% completion rate, his worst mark in four years.
AFC Executive Questions Hurts’ Long-Term Future in Philadelphia
An unnamed AFC executive told ESPN that Hurts is someone Philadelphia could eventually move on from if the team’s offense continues to struggle.
“Hurts I could see,” the AFC executive said when asked whether the Eagles could look to move him next offseason if the offense struggles. “Polarizing player, and as his running ability starts to decline, his value will decline, too. And [Eagles general manager Howie Roseman] will always be proactive with finding solutions.”
That assessment carries weight because Hurts’ rushing totals cratered in 2025. He carried the ball just 105 times for 421 yards, both career lows since he became a full-time starter. For a quarterback whose five-year, $255 million contract is partly built on his dual-threat ability, the decline in his ground game is a legitimate concern.
There is little guaranteed money left in the deal after the 2027 season, which means the Eagles have a natural exit point if things don’t improve.
However, the picture isn’t entirely bleak. A.J. Brown’s expected departure via trade, likely to the New England Patriots, could help Hurts. The star wideout’s public frustrations and target demands created an undercurrent that disrupted the offensive flow. Without Brown, Hurts won’t have to force-feed a disgruntled receiver and can instead spread the ball to DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Marquise Brown, and rookie Makai Lemon.
Smith, who had 77 receptions for 1,008 yards in 2025 despite the offensive struggles, has always handled his frustrations differently than Brown. According to PFSN’s WR Impact Metric, Smith posted an impact score of 81.7, ranking 17th in the league last season. However, now that he is expected to be the WR1, the Alabama product has the potential to become a top-five wideout in the league.
New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who previously worked for the Green Bay Packers, brings a system heavy on play-action and pre-snap motion, which is unusual for the Eagles quarterback. If Mannion’s scheme unlocks the intermediate passing game, Hurts’ numbers could look extremely different.
A deep playoff run, a third consecutive NFC East title, and a Pro Bowl-caliber season for Hurts would likely quiet the noise around the quarterback. However, anything short of that would leave general manager Howie Roseman, who has never been afraid to make bold moves at the most important position in football, with decisions to make next year.
