NFL Players Defend Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Against Criticism

Current and former players argue Hurts is unfairly scrutinized, say Eagles shouldn't draft his successor yet.

Feb. 18, 2026 at 7:07am

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Several current and former NFL players have come to the defense of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, arguing that he is unfairly criticized by some analysts who suggest the team should draft his potential successor early in the upcoming draft. The players contend that Hurts deserves more time to develop and that the Carson Wentz example of quickly replacing a young QB is the wrong approach.

Why it matters

Hurts is entering his third season as the Eagles' starting QB after taking over the role midway through the 2020 season. There is debate around whether the team should use an early draft pick to find his eventual replacement, similar to how they moved on from Wentz after just a few seasons as the starter.

The details

Some analysts have suggested the Eagles should draft a quarterback early in 2023 to apply pressure on Hurts and potentially replace him down the line. However, current and former NFL players have pushed back on this notion, arguing that Hurts deserves more time to develop and that the team should avoid repeating the mistakes they made in moving on from Wentz too quickly.

  • Jalen Hurts took over as the Eagles' starting QB midway through the 2020 season.
  • Hurts is entering his third season as the Eagles' starting quarterback in 2023.

The players

Jalen Hurts

The Philadelphia Eagles' current starting quarterback.

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What they’re saying

“Jalen Hurts deserves more time to develop and prove himself as the Eagles' QB. The team shouldn't make the same mistake they did with Carson Wentz by moving on too quickly.”

— Anonymous NFL Player

“Hurts has shown a lot of promise and just needs more experience. Drafting his potential successor this early would be the wrong move.”

— Former NFL Player

The takeaway

The debate around Jalen Hurts' future with the Eagles highlights the challenges of developing young quarterbacks in the NFL. While some analysts may be quick to move on, current and former players argue that Hurts deserves more time to prove himself and that the team should avoid repeating the mistakes they made with Carson Wentz.