Inside Why Eagles’ Jalen Hurts Deserves Top-5 QB Ranking originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

In recent years, Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback Jalen Hurts has become one of the most challenging signal-callers to rank.

Advertisement

His passing numbers aren’t on par with those of reigning MVP Josh Allen or MVP candidate Joe Burrow. He can run, but not quite like two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.

He hasn’t been relied upon to lead his team to victory in a “single-handed” manner like others seemingly have.

However, what Hurts has over almost every other quarterback around the league is …

A Super Bowl ring.

And a Super Bowl MVP.

And since when don’t those things factor into “rankings?”

Hurts’ numbers during the regular season in 2024 were largely forgotten — or should’ve been — thanks to his heroics in Super Bowl LIX.

Advertisement

Philadelphia’s franchise quarterback almost totaled 300 yards with three total touchdowns in the team’s 40-22 victory over the regal Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes in February. Usually, a performance like that would put a quarterback like Hurts into top-five consideration around the league.

But for many critics?

That hasn’t been the case.

From SB Nation to Chris Simms, Hurts has been on the outside looking in during the latest top 10 rankings.

Is that fair? Does Hurts deserve top-five consideration after his playoff success in 2024?

The reality is that many quarterbacks ahead of Hurts on these rankings — say, Justin Herbert, Baker Mayfield and Jayden Daniels — have struggled to match Philadelphia’s success. There are plenty of reasons why, of course. The Eagles have loads of talent around Hurts, including All-Pro skill players and a dominant offensive line.

Advertisement

But that doesn’t — or shouldn’t — take away from how good Hurts has been.

Players like Allen, Jackson and Burrow also have stars around them. Those guys have yet to create a way to beat Patrick Mahomes consistently, or to win a Super Bowl, for that matter.

Hurts has done all of that.

The fact that he has found a way to win with this talent isn’t indicative of a player of being carried by his teammates, but rather, in this case, it’s about a star who knows how to tap into what it takes to win with top skill guys around him.

Few signal-callers in the game have done the same. And by the numbers, there certainly aren’t five QBs who’ve accomplished more.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.