Philadelphia Eagles Landing QB In Round 1

Steve Bradshaw specializes in covering the NFL Draft, NFL, and Fantasy Football for TWSN. Notably, Bradshaw has been able to cover the NFL Combine with media credentials for TWSN.

Outside of football, Bradshaw also has experience writing about the MLB & NBA.

Over the past few days, there’s been quite a bit of discussion around the Philadelphia Eagles and their QB1, Jalen Hurts.

Among NFL fans, Hurts isn’t the most popular player, but there were recent reports coming out that were extremely negative on him.

Some notes from @JFowlerESPN’s article on Jalen Hurts:

– pushed back on changes that would diversify the scheme,

– wanted to avoid playing under center

– reluctant to let it rip at times, particularly against zone coverage

– poor body language, not always bought in

– not… pic.twitter.com/MikMOQhjIc

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) April 1, 2026

These reports aren’t great by any means, but what stuck out to me was a post from Sleeper on X:

“The Eagles have no intention of extending Jalen Hurts’ contract until his play improves, per
@Jeff_McLane”

Hurts is on a massive deal right now, but he becomes a free agent in 2029, with the most realistic outcome being the out in his contract in 2028.

Below, we’ll break down the scenario of Philadelphia drafting a quarterback in round one to give a final verdict on this scenario.

Key Facts:

• Team: Philadelphia Eagles

• 2025 Record: 11-6

• 2026 NFL Draft Picks (Days 1 & 2): 23, 54, 68 & 98

Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft Scenario: Landing Ty Simpson in Round 1

If the Eagles are going to draft a replacement to Hurts, this is not a great year to do so. Philadelphia picks later in the draft, which is never great for landing a quarterback, but that’s even more true this year.

The 2026 quarterback class has a steep drop-off once you get past Fernando Mendoza, who is pretty much a lock to go at pick No. 1. However, the next tier of quarterback prospects consists of one player; Ty Simpson.

The consensus backs this up as well when looking at NFL Mock Draft Database. Mendoza has a rank of one, with Simpson all the way down at 30 as QB2. After Simpson, you have Garrett Nussmeier as the QB3, all the way down at 87. Even after Nussmeier, there’s a significant drop to QB4, with Carson Beck at 113.

Simpson would be a perfect fit in Philadelphia. Even as the QB2 in this class, Simpson needs time to sit and develop.

Simpson only started one season in college, and he struggled to be consistent each week. The flashes were absolutely there, but Simpson hasn’t proven that he’s ready to be an NFL starter just yet.

If the Eagles are going to pick a quarterback in round one, Simpson is pretty much the only reasonable option.

Should the Philadelphia Eagles Move on From Jalen Hurts?

At this point, it seems as if the pendulum has swung too far in the Hurts debate. While I don’t believe Hurts is a top-five quarterback, he’s a quality starter, and an above-average one at that.

People love to point out Hurts’ failing to throw for over 3,300 yards in 2024 and 2025 without looking at his rushing numbers. In 2024, Hurts had 630 rushing yards and 421 in 2025.

Not only that, but Hurts has shown he’s capable of leading a team to a Super Bowl and playing well in that game.

At the same time, I’m not sure Hurts shouldn’t be criticized at all, because it’s true he’s not an elite passer. If the Eagles continue to struggle over the next few years and it’s clearly not working between the two sides anymore, putting an end to the Hurts era could make sense.

However, that doesn’t seem as if it’s the most likely scenario, so spending a round one pick on a quarterback wouldn’t make sense. Instead, taking a shot on a developmental quarterback later in the draft would be much more ideal.

A few options that make more sense than Simpson are Drew Allar with a big board rank of 115, Cole Payton at 139 or Taylen Green at 145.

If the Philadelphia Eagles really feel this strongly about Hurts, it would not shock me if they went with Simpson in round one. I’m just not sure that would be the right move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jalen Hurts Age?

Jalen Hurts is 27 years old.

Ty Simpson Age?

Ty Simpson is 23 years old.

Ty Simpson Stats?

Simpson had 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2025.

Philadelphia Eagles Round 1 Pick?

The Philadelphia Eagles have pick No. 23 in the 2026 NFL draft.

Philadelphia Eagles Landing QB In Round 1

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