Philadelphia Eagles franchise quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts is one of the more difficult quarterbacks to judge across the entire NFL.
He doesn't have the same intangibles as a player like Lamar Jackson, he doesn't have the arm talent of Josh Allen, and he isn't as strong a pocket-passer as someone like Joe Burrow.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Yet Hurts, out of all those three other quarterbacks is the lone player to have a Super Bowl game MVP title to his name and has been to multiple title games.
So does that mean Hurts is a top-five quarterback in the sport? His dethroning of Patrick Mahomes and the fact he outplayed the three-time champ in two Super Bowl games surely must mean he will get his flowers this time, right?
Not quite. At least to some.
The debate on Hurts as a top-five quarterback is fascinating. It took on new meaning when former Eagles captain and cornerback Darius Slay stated that the top quarterbacks in the game consist of Mahomes, Burrow, Allen, and Jackson with the obvious omission of his teammate.
One top receiver is looking to correct that, though.
Speaking on the 7pm in Brooklyn Podcast, DeVonta Smith made it clear that whole Slay's "top four" list is fine, he would take Hurts in that conversation as well.
"Slay said the 'Big 4,' for me, it's the 'Big 5' and Jalen's in that five" Smith said. "The four that he named and then I'm putting Jalen in there. To me, that's the "Big 5." I don't think it's a 'Big 4,' it's a 'Big 5,' honestly."
Not many people end up going to bat for the Eagles starting quarterback. It's something he's had to deal with over his five-year career in the league.
Yet he is now a Super Bowl champion and has shown he can win and play well on the brightest of stages. It may be time to listen to Smith and give Hurts his flowers.
