Inside the Eagles' 2020 QB shift that altered careers for Jalen Hurts, Carson Wentz - Philadelphia Eagles Blog- ESPN

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles' front office appears to have gotten their initial evaluation of quarterback Jalen Hurts right — with one massive exception.

After selecting him with the 53rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft — a stunner of a move, even to many on the team — the brass went on offense to explain to the frenzied masses why they would take a quarterback in the second round 10 months after handing then 27-year-old Carson Wentz a four-year, $128 million extension.

Former vice president of player personnel Andy Weidl described Hurts as «part of the new guard [of] mobile quarterbacks in the league that can win throwing it or running it.» He called Hurts a «natural leader» while noting the importance of having a solid insurance policy at the position. General manager Howie Roseman stressed Hurts being a good teammate. He forecast that, over time, Hurts' value would exceed his draft slot. That has all held up well.

What they miscalculated was how those qualities would alter the internal dynamics. They knew Hurts had a gravitational pull, but didn't realize how close the situation with Wentz was to flying off its axis.

«Nobody is going to be looking at a rookie quarterback as somebody who's going to be taking over [for] a Pro Bowl quarterback, a guy who's been on the cusp of winning an MVP,» Roseman said at the time, later adding: «There's no threat to Carson here.»

Hurts took over for Wentz in a Week 13 game against the Green Bay Packers. Wentz didn't play another down for the Eagles.

Fast-forward to the present day, and Hurts is enjoying a red-hot start to his second season as the Eagles' full-time starter. After a dominant performance against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football, in which he racked up 390