GMEN HQ, a blog that covers the New York Giants, selected the most overrated player on each NFC East team.
Its choice for the Eagles: quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Hmmm.
IS JALEN HURTS OVERRATED?
Is it possible to agree *and* disagree with the blog about the same player? Because I do.
Hurts could be both the most overrated and the most underrated player on the Eagles. It’s true.
It’s still June, so it’s tightrope-walking to make such predictions.
Here’s GMEN HQ’s logic about Hurts: “Some Eagles fans need to slow their roll on the way they talk about Jalen Hurts. While he’s an exciting, young talent, he’s still showcased plenty of flaws in his game. The Eagles have done him little-to-no service with his receiving core since he was drafted (prior to this offseason). However, Hurts plays behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, plus he now has weapons A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
“While Hurts’ running stats from last year are very impressive (784 yards and 10 TDs), his passing stats are solid at best. Hurts threw for 3,144 yards, 16 TDs and nine interceptions. These stats are not bad by any means, but it’s not good enough for him to be considered a star signal-caller.
“Does Hurts have the potential to be a great QB in this league? Absolutely. Will the acquisition of an elite receiver like Brown help his development? Of course. However, Hurts has a lot to work on before NFL fans overhype the young phenom even further.”
I don’t disagree with the ‘Jalen Hurts overrated’ viewpoint. Hurts is unfinished and, really, *no one* knows for sure how good he is. However, we can be smart and analytical, and develop our own informed conclusion — and we still have no certainty.
The Eagles built the offense around him and their plan is to move forward with him leading the charge.
- But what if the plan doesn’t work?
- What if Hurts is nothing more than a glorified backup?
Those are my “Jalen Hurts overrated” thoughts.
IS JALEN HURTS ACTUALLY UNDERRATED?
- What if Hurts is the real deal?
- So, what if he becomes a top-5 quarterback?
- What if the confidence the Eagles have in Hurts is justified and he goes out there and picks apart defenses?
If he is that good — and he could be — he would be underrated based on the current uncertainty and criticism surrounding his game.
If he is that good, we might be in for a tremendous era of Eagles football.
The other NFC East overrated players, according to GMEN HQ, are:
Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliot (agree: not enough left in the tank)
&
Washington quarterback Carson Wentz (agree: over-rated … as fans chant at college basketball games)
PFN SAYS EAGLES NEED TIGHT END DEPTH
Pro Football Network published a list of each team’s “biggest remaining needs.” PFN declared that the Eagles’ need is tight end depth.
PFN’s recommendation? Sign unrestricted free agent Chris Herndon…
“One area where the Eagles could use a bit more depth is at tight end. They kept using 12 personnel on roughly a quarter of their snaps even after trading Zach Ertz to the Cardinals last season, but No. 2 TE Jack Stoll received only five targets after Ertz was dealt.
“Herndon has never lived up to his 39-502-4 rookie line. That said, he’s the type of young, athletic pass catcher the Eagles should be willing to take a cost-effective chance on.”
Herndon played three seasons with the Jets and played last season with the Vikings. The fourth-rounder from the University of Miami has started 30 games. He has 75 catches for 836 yards and eight touchdowns.
Behind Dallas Goedert and Stoll, the Eagles have sixth-round pick Grant Calcaterra. Plus, former quarterback Tyree Jackson and former wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside are switching to tight end.
Gotta think someone will step up and become a solid backup.
COWBOYS’ PARSONS IS SACK SEEKING
Dallas defensive rookie of the year linebacker Micah Parsons has big plans for the 2022 season.
He wants to break the NFL sack record of 22.5. Parsons had 13 last season as he had a Pro Bowl season and was first-team All-Pro.
“Yeah, 15’s like the minimum. 15’s what I want to hit,” the former Penn Stater told CBS Sports. “But 23 is that goal, to break the record.”
After a sensational rookie year, don’t bet against Parsons. He’s only likely to get better with experience.
RANDALL’S DAUGHTER WINS HIGH JUMP NATIONALS
Randall Cunningham’s daughter, Vashti, is a world-class high jumper. She’s now the national champion.
Cunningham won the high jump at the recent U.S. Championships in Eugene, Oregon, with a jump of 1.96 meters, qualifying for the world championships.
Randall was more than her proud pop as she won the gold medal. He also is her coach. He is the only coach Vashti has had.
Vashti, 24, is a two-time Olympian, having competed at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and in Tokyo in 2021. When she was in high school, she was the best high jumper in the country.
