Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie reportedly has a message for general manager Howie Roseman and new coach Nick Sirianni.
There will be no quarterback competition this fall. According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, who reported on Monday that Lurie wants the football team to “prioritize the success of (Jalen) Hurts in 2021 instead of creating real competition”.
Mortensen also did not report that “the Eagles have internal unanimity in Hurts as QB1”, which implies that not everyone in Philadelphia is sold in the second year quarterback. But in a power dynamic featuring a first-year NFL head coach and a team owner, it is not difficult to predict how this will play out – regardless of whether Lurie is qualified to make football decisions.
The depth chart has been cleared for Hurts
Judging by the current list, there is no other choice but Hurts. Carson Wentz went to the Indianapolis Colts and Nate Sudfeld will be a free agent – not that he was a threat to Hurts’ control in the starting position.
Will the Eagles stay out of the busy off-season quarterback market?
Monday’s report probably says more about the Eagles’ plans during the off-season than whatever happens on the training ground. The free agency and trade markets are prepared for a significant quarterback move in this off-season, in addition to a draft that must be weighed in the position.
Lurie’s reported message indicates that Philadelphia will not be a player in these markets. The Eagles will need to fill in the depth chart, but it looks like they won’t be looking for an initial caliber quarterback to challenge Hurts. They want to find out what they have of the former Oklahoma defender, who was one of the surprises in the 2020 draft, when the Eagles selected him in the second round.
It hurts the numbers like a newbie
The Eagles took a quick look at the Hurts when former coach Doug Pederson summoned him in favor of Wentz at the end of last season. He started four games, in addition to one-time appearances throughout the season, completing 52 percent of his passes for 1,061 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions at 6.8 yards per attempt. He also ran for 354 yards and three touchdowns at 5.6 yards per load.
He led the Eagles to surprising wins against NFC champion South New Orleans Saints in Week 14 and played for more than 300 yards in each of their next two games, defeats to the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys.
Will confidence in the Hurts pay off?
He showed enough potential for Lurie to look for a more complete look with the added benefit of Hurts going through the training ground as quarterback No. 1.
As for Hurts, he is ready to take on the starting mantle.
“I think it was just an opportunity for me,” Hurts told the Adam Schefter podcast about Philadelphia’s decision to switch from Wentz. “I think it shows confidence and what they think I can be as a player, so I want to prove that they are right.”
It looks like he will have every opportunity to prove his worth as a starter or add Lurie to the long list of meddling homeowners who make bad football decisions.
More from Yahoo Sports: