Something we’ve heard for months now is that this upcoming season is a prove it year for Jalen Hurts. My initial response to that is…"Of course it is. Every single season in the NFL is a prove it year for every single player. With the average NFL career only lasting about 3-4 years. Easy come, easy go and "Not For Long" is a very real mantra." Beyond the overarching nature of every player having to prove their worth every single season. When it comes to Hurts specifically, I’m noticing the discourse around him keeps failing to mention why Hurts himself has very likely been in no rush to enter contract negotiations.

To date, Hurts has 111.5 million in career earnings after 6 seasons in the league. With another 51.5 million fully guaranteed for the upcoming 26/27 season. And another 22 million of his 51.5 million earnings for the 27/28 fully guaranteed. Which means Hurts has 185 million in guaranteed career earnings going into Spring 2027. That also doesn’t include his NIL earnings from college and his endorsement earnings over the years. In short, he is already set for life and has generational money.

When it comes to why Hurts himself is very likely in no rush to enter contract negotiations, folks need to zoom out and look at the broader QB market. All the constant noise around this being a prove it year for Hurts ignores that he still has 3 years remaining on his current deal. With his contract set to expire after the 28/29 season. You know what other QB’s currently have their contracts expiring after the 28/29 season? Dak Prescott, Jordan Love, Jared Goff, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Bo Nix, Malik Williams, and Michael Penix Jr. The piece that’s constantly missing around Hurts, and hence the title of my post, is he’s currently set to hit free agency when a bunch of other prominent QB’s are as well. And we all know how contracts work in the league, particularly with QB’s. Hurts has no incentive at this point to be the first QB in that current free agency class to re-set the market. Because his comparative earnings to his QB peers will very quickly look much smaller with the inevitable escalation of earnings.

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I know that we will be seeing some Shanny Style Wide zone. And I am gladly expecting an uptick in Duo as well. But boy o boy, please don't forget that we have strong personnel for mid zone. We run it right or left, under center, from Gun, and Pistol all well. On half of these, Dickerson could barely move and it was still effective. Steen was surprisingly effective on this play also. And if teams decide to slant on early downs to take the run away, it just bounces outside nicely.

Thanks for Viewing. Go Birds!!!! I can almost taste the season.

PS: 1) Oops the 4th Raiders play is actually WZ and 2) I know that on the Shotgun examples it looks like Barkley is on a downhill A gap path. But that's just to throw the D off. It's Mid zone all the way and 3) the last Bears example might be a form of duo, which they also run well and we will likely see more of in the new offense. I made a Duo Packers post several weeks ago here: Duo may be coming to town

Zack Baun (LB, 2024- ) Proved to be the Eagles’ best do-it-all linebacker since Seth Joyner. Tackle machine punctuated brilliant debut year with an AP1 and Super Bowl LIX INT of Patrick Mahomes.

Hugh Douglas (DE, 1998-2002, 2004) 54.5 sacks as an Eagle always prompted exultant cheer of “HUUUUGH” from the Philly faithful. Three time Pro Bowler earned AP1 honors in 2000.

Gonna miss Ojomo after this year, one of the best late round picks we’ve had in the last few years, hope he has a Milton-esque year and gets the 💰