Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts finished outside the top 10 ranking of quarterbacks in the NFL, according to a recent poll conducted by ESPN among the league's coaches, scouts, and executives. Despite his success in the NFL, including winning the Super Bowl, he only earned an honorable mention.

What happened?

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler explained why Hurts wasn't ranked among the top NFL quarterbacks via a phone call on "Midday With Marks" on Monday. While noting his respect for Hurts, the NFL insider highlights a perceived lack of "fear factor" compared to the league's elite signal-callers.

Why it matters for Jalen Hurts

"This is an exercise in fear," Fowler said. "Fear in the NFL is currency. You fear your opponent. When you game plan against the Eagles' offense, does Jalen Hurts keep you up at night? So, to be a top quarterback, you have to be number one on that scouting report."

What comes next?

The list, published in the early hours of Monday, had Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen as the top name on the list, followed by Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford. However, the exclusion of Jalen Hurts has sparked significant debate around quarterback evaluation across the NFL world.

The Eagles signal-caller has repeatedly silenced doubters throughout his career, from overcoming criticism to delivering in the biggest moments. The ESPN quarterback poll has added fuel to the conversation around the Eagles quarterback, and the upcoming 2026 season is another opportunity to prove doubters wrong.

Hurts has a lot to prove in the upcoming season, particularly in terms of his passing game. "They want more quality passing, particularly over the middle of the field," Fowler said. "Quick decision-making from the pocket ... That's really what they want. They feel like he struggles in that area."

Despite the criticism, Hurts has a great deal of respect in the league for his intangibles. He throws a great deep ball, and he does a lot of things well. However, the Eagles were in the bottom third in passing offense the last two years.

The 2026 season is another chance for Hurts to prove himself and silence his critics. With the upcoming season just around the corner, the debate around Jalen Hurts' ranking will continue to be a hot topic in the NFL world.

category: player_focus