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Jalen Hurts for MVP? Cris Collinsworth shares his thoughts on former Alabama QB’s chances
By Corey Long
Published:
Cris Collinsworth is clearly a fan of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and believes the third-year pro has gotten considerably better and more comfortable in all facets of the game.
But the NBC Sunday Night Football analyst and founder of Pro Football Focus had an odd answer when Dan Patrick asked him what Hurts needed to do to become a legitimate NFL MVP contender.
“I think you need to see him do it in the playoffs,” he said. “It’s like all these guys…all the guys that got their team there,” he said.
Well that was confusing to many because the NFL MVP award is a regular season award. Lamar Jackson, a former NFL MVP, has struggled in the playoffs, but he was a unanimous choice for the award in 2019 because of his dominant regular-season. Patrick Mahomes won the award in his first year as a starter n 2018.
How do u win a reg season award in the playoffs?
— Shanbhu (@Shanbhu) October 13, 2022
Collinsworth was presumably trying to say that Hurts has to lead his team to the playoffs to get on the radar for future seasons (discounting Mahomes, of course). That’s what Buffalo’s Josh Allen did.
Philadelphia did make the playoffs last season with Hurts as quarterback, but he was still in his early development as a player, especially in the passing game. He has improved greatly in that area this season and has a QBR in the top 10.
Collinsworth also seemed to imply that Hurts needs to continue to improve as a passer to really demand the massive contract extension he is expected to get.
“How much do we have to pay Jalen? Are you going to have to go to $50 million? I don’t know….The next alternative is, do you try and go find another quarterback in the Draft. That mmindset I’m starting to hear more and more of around the league.
“If you’re going to play the read option game, especially with all the concussion stuff coming to the floor, are you going to have to have a couple of those guys?”
Collinsworth did add that Hurts is taking the steps to becoming a complete quarterback and if he does he could reset the quarterback market.
Hurts and the Eagles will take on the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football this week.
Corey Long is a freelance writer for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Corey on Twitter @CoreyLong.
