NFC exec on possible extension talks between Jalen Hurts and Eagles: ‘You can’t afford to let him get to next year’

Patrick Breen-The Republic-USA TODAY NETWORK

Though Jalen Hurts couldn’t lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl win on Sunday night, he proved once again that he is every part a franchise quarterback.

The University of Alabama product looked incredible throughout the entire game and made very few costly mistakes. Without a doubt, the Eagles plan to keep him in Philadelphia for a very long time.

Though there are some who are not yet sold on Hurts being the long-term answer at quarterback and feel his success is more a product of the team’s system rather than his own ability, there is another contingent of decision-makers in the NFL who thinks he is already worthy of a big-time contract.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, one NFL executive believes the team should try to lock him into a long-term contract in the very near future.

“You can’t afford to let him get to next year,” the exec said.

Clearly, this executive is insinuating that the Eagles shouldn’t even give Hurts the chance to consider testing the market. The 2023 NFL season will be the final season on Hurts’ rookie deal.

He is set to make $4.3 million during the 2023 season. Given the way that he played last season, he is obviously worth far more than that. When it comes to what Hurts might make per season on a new contract, NFL insider Dan Graziano broke it down recently.

“I expect the Eagles to work to sign quarterback Jalen Hurts to an extension early in the offseason,” he wrote. “They know the price has likely gone to $50 million a year or more.”

Last season, he threw for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns while recording just six picks. He added 760 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

He’s a typical dual-threat quarterback and created problems for opposing defenders all season long.

With that in mind, there are always slight question marks when top dual-threat quarterbacks are getting paid. The primary reason why is because there seems to be a greater risk of injury for signal-callers who regularly tuck the ball and run it themselves.

Now that the NFL offseason has arrived, it will be interesting to see if the Eagles try to engage Hurts and his camp on contract negotiations. The Eagles already have a big offseason ahead of them, but a new contract for their star quarterback would surely be the biggest news out of Philadelphia.