Why Eagles contract question with Jalen Hurts just got a lot more interesting originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Coming into the 2026 NFL season, this was a year meant to figure out what the Philadelphia Eagles had on their team. More specifically, it was focused on what Jalen Hurts' future with the Eagles could entail.
Hurts is a beloved franchise legend and Super Bowl MVP. But beyond the 2026 season, there are some real questions as to what his future holds. It would not be a surprise if the Eagles moved on from him soon. But that's why this year was so important.
Now that Hurts is out for the season due to blood clots, this question just got a lot more interesting. ESPN's Dan Graziano outlined why this already intriguing situation just got a lot more interesting for the Eagles and Hurts.
Eagles question on Jalen Hurts' future just got a lot more interesting
"Regardless of how this season was to play out for Hurts and the Eagles, there was always going to be an offseason discussion about whether to extend him again -- and if so, at what level -- or look into other options," Graziano writes.
With Hurts signed through the 2027 season, but with only $22 million guaranteed next year, the Eagles could move on from Hurts for next season if they want to pivot their QB plans.
That might've only happened if Hurts really struggled in 2026, which they no longer will be able to determine with his blood clot issue ending his season very early.
He showed some highs and some lows this season, but easily could've had the Eagles at 4-1 if a few things went their way against the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, now that he's out for the rest of the season, the Eagles don't really have a lot of recent film to go off of. Plus, there will be questions about his ability if and when he does come back from this blood clot issue.
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Will the Eagles sign Hurts to an extension? It's not out of the question, especially if they decide to give it one more go in 2027 for a Super Bowl.
But there's also a scenario where the Eagles move on from Hurts after the 2026 season. Whether it's a trade or cutting Hurts for cap reasons, there's a very real scenario where Hurts isn't the team's QB going forward.
After the Eagles didn't extend him coming off the 2025 season, Howie Roseman somewhat revealed his hand: Hurts needed to prove something in 2026 to get a new deal with the team.
That, obviously, isn't going to happen now. So, an already incredibly interesting question for the Eagles just got a lot more intriguing, and a lot more complicated.
Since he's already under contract, the Eagles might give him one more season as the starter, with the option to turn to a rookie or a different veteran in the near future if things go south.
There are plenty of quarterback situations around the NFL that are interesting to watch, but this one might be the most intriguing, as almost anything could happen with Hurts and the Eagles after the 2026 season.
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