If the New York Giants want to win the NFC East, they need to assume the role of the division's dragon slayer. Be the fun police. The goal is to ensure that John Harbaugh's squad is a tough out on any given Sunday, including against one of their division rivals: the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles have won the NFC East in three of the last four seasons and won a Super Bowl in 2024. This team is talented. This team is dangerous. But they're going to fly only as high as quarterback Jalen Hurts takes them, and he's entering a make-or-break season after what was a brutal showing in 2025.
At this moment in time, Hurts is facing more questions than an episode of Lost. The Eagles traded star wide receiver A.J. Brown after a wild trade saga and fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo after realizing a 12-year-old who plays Madden could call a better offense. So, weirdly, the Super Bowl LIX MVP is back to square one after winning a ring.
Giants fans should be happy Eagles' Jalen Hurts still has a lot to prove
The 27-year-old Hurts is entering his third year of a five-year, $255 million contract extension in which he was paid $180 million guaranteed. A $51 million-a-year quarterback was once labeled elite, but now he's set to work with his fifth new OC in as many seasons and learn another new system.
And therein lies the problem. The Eagles hired first-time play-caller Sean Mannion as their new offensive coordinator, and Giants fans should be happy we don't know much about him. And The Athletic's Brooks Kubena is using the summer break to ask how Hurts will fare in a new offense.
"This is an important year for Jalen Hurts," Kubena wrote ($). "The Eagles made no move to give him more contract security this offseason, and although he still has three years left on a deal that affords him franchise quarterback status, it’s feasible for the organization to move on from him after this season if it so chooses.
Kubena noted that the Eagles didn't sign him to a new extension or attempt to give the three-time Pro Bowler any additional contract security this offseason, so he's at risk of losing a lot if he doesn't return to his pre-Patullo form. And maybe a new play-caller is the spark needed to open the NFC East back up.
The Eagles have one of the most talented offenses in the NFL, but excuses are being made for the former Oklahoma Sooner at every turn. The run game was bad. The offensive line was hurt (pun intended). At what point will excuses stop being made for such an inconsistent passer? Everything needs to go right for Hurts to thrive, and it's now time to put up or shut up, as Kubena highlighted:
"While no player performed well in last year’s clunky system, the campaign revealed that Hurts indeed has limitations. New OC Sean Mannion’s scheme will call for the most under-center play of Hurts’ career, with a slew of other significant changes to boot. The offseason only offered a peek. Can Hurts get back to elite play? Will he earn that next major deal?"
Kubena also noted that Philadelphia's offense will call for more under-center play than ever for the 2020 second-round pick, and there will be a turning curve to deal with. And if these questions continue to persist with Hurts, his long-term future will be a hot topic.
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