Unfair to Jalen Hurts? – The evidence shows Hurts is on par with Mahomes, yet he’s still not called ‘elite’!
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts recently found himself again underappreciated when Pro Football Focus released its preseason rankings, slotting him at No. 5 among NFL quarterbacks.
While this marks an improvement-especially after he languished as low as 23rd last season-it still falls short of what many consider his rightful place: among the elite. Even with a Super Bowl appearance and an MVP-level year behind him, narrative seems to stubbornly resist acknowledging his full value.
Hurts‘ résumé speaks volumes: in 2024 he had a a 103.7 passer rating, 18 touchdown passes to just five interceptions, and more than 630 rushing yards accompanied by 14 scores on the ground.
Notably, he’s one of only two quarterbacks since 2020 to log double-digit rushing touchdowns every season-a rare blend of dual-threat playmaking. Yet PFF’s analytical model, which highly prioritizes passing efficiency, still pegs him behind names like Mahomes, Allen, Burrow, and Lamar Jackson-though it’s hard to argue he doesn’t deserve to be in even loftier company.
Fox Sports’ Michael Strahan offered a clarifying perspective:
“Jalen Hurts gets discounted a lot […] He’s had an incredible career for a guy they said can’t, can’t, can’t. He’s shown everybody that he can.”
His progress hasn’t gone unnoticed by analysts either. Earlier this month, Athlon Sports’ John Kosko recognized that Hurts “flipped the script” in 2024.
After struggles under pressure in 2023, the quarterback delivered when it counted, culminating in a 91.5 overall PFF grade that ranked fifth among all QBs. Still, PFF continued to place him in the “highend starter” tier, just shy of the “elite” class-despite calling his Super Bowl run “impressive.”
The lingering disrespect: why analytics fall short
The crux of the debate lies in how Hurts is measured. Advanced analytics-like PFF’s system-tend to heavily weight traditional passing metrics, which can penalize quarterbacks who tilt toward a balanced attack. That means Hurts‘ dynamic dual-threat style risks undervaluation.
In contrast, his game-changing abilities-especially rushing prowess-can get lost in grading models primarily tuned to arm talent and pure air yards.
Hurts‘ resiliency is more than stats on a sheet; it’s leadership, adaptability, and consistency under pressure. When Fox Sports’ Michael Strahan says he “gets discounted a lot,” there’s clear frustration in the contrast between narrative and numbers.
Meanwhile, former analysts like Keyshawn Johnson have previously argued that it’s unfair for Hurts to remain underappreciated, even when he strings together improbable streaks or Super Bowl runs.
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