Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa are in somewhat similar positions as both former Alabama quarterbacks are looking for a breakout season with the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins.

ESPN NFL reporter Sal Paolantonio joined the Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday and spoke highly of the improvements made by Hurts and expects the third-round quarterback to help the Eagles win the NFC East.

“Think about this..[Jalen Hurts] is in the same offense with the same offensive coaches for 2 years in row for the first time since he was 16 years old,” Paolantonio said. “He goes to California and gets 3 or 4 weeks of really good training on his footwork and mechanics and it’s really showed…He’s delivering the ball definitely with more velocity and accuracy, now he just has to make quick decisions.”


Paolantonio was also asked who would be better, Hurts or Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

“I think it’ll be Jalen Hurts,” Paolantonio said. “Tua’s going to be good. There are so many quarterbacks that are going to be in ‘prove it’ years.”

Hurts, a second-round pick (53rd overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft, threw for 3,144 yards and 16 touchdown and added 784 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns for the Eagles in his first year as a full-time starter.

Tagovailoa, the fifth overall pick in the 2020 Draft, threw for 2,653 yards and 16 touchdowns in 12 starts for the Dolphins last season.

The two were teammates at Alabama in 2017 and 2018, helping lead the Crimson Tide to consecutive appearances in the CFP national championship game and a CFP national title in 2017.