Eagles QB Jalen Hurts: NFL's Best Deep Passer?
Jalen Hurts has made remarkable strides since being named the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback toward the end of the 2020 season.
The growth of Hurts as a player has been particularly remarkable, especially in his deep-ball ability. This progress has earned him recognition, as The 33rd team has ranked him as the seventh-best deep passer in the NFL. The site acknowledges his willingness to throw into one-on-one coverage, showcasing his confidence and skill in that aspect of the game.
"Hurts has two true No. 1-caliber receivers in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. But it also helps those receivers have a quarterback who is eager to turn it loose, especially when he spots 1-on-1 coverage," The 33rd Team writes.
Hurts exhibited exceptional growth as a passer in 2022, ascending from 19th (54.6) to fourth (66.4) in QBR and from 26th (61.3 percent) to 11th (66.5 percent) in completion percentage, according to ESPN. Additionally, he threw for 3,701 yards with an average of eight yards per pass, a major improvement over his 2021 performance of 3,144 yards and an average of 7.3 yards per pass.
Given Hurts' significant progress in his young NFL career, it would not be surprising to see him further enhance his deep-ball skills, especially with another offseason to work with Brown, who significantly contributed to his passer development last season.
As the Eagles aim to return to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season, it would be a bonus for the reigning NFC champions, considering the many things Hurts can already do with his legs.
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