Despite QB Gardner Minshew‘s strong performance in last week’s victory over the Jets, the Eagles — who are on a bye this week — will turn the reins back over to Jalen Hurts when they return to the field for their Week 15 contest against WFT, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. Hurts was unable to suit up for the Jets game due to an ankle injury but is expected to be healthy enough to resume his starting role next week.
The Jets’ defense is hardly the most difficult test for a quarterback, but Minshew did exactly what he needed to do to put himself back on the radar for QB-needy clubs by completing 20 of 25 passes for 242 yards and throwing two TD passes. There may not be a quarterback controversy in Philadelphia at the moment, and Hurts’ play down the stretch will obviously factor into the Eagles’ long-term thinking, but even if the Eagles’ front office is content to move forward with Hurts, Minshew may have at least bolstered his trade value.
Per Rapoport, the Panthers called the Eagles about a possible Minshew trade during the season, not long before Carolina signed Matt Barkley and Cam Newton. The two clubs never got particularly deep into talks, but Minshew is expected to generate outside interest again this offseason.
RapSheet says that Minshew is generally viewed as no worse than a bridge starter, with the upside to be more. A team that misses out on one of 2022’s top trade targets or collegiate passers, or a team that is looking to groom a young QB, would probably be happy to give up a mid-round pick for Minshew.
The former Jaguars draftee still has a year to go on his rookie contract and will make a modest $965K in 2022, further enhancing his trade value.
Minshew literally is a starting caliber QB. Just was misused by the Jags and their tankathon for Lawrence.
Why? Why not give Minshew a chance to start? I know Philly views Hurts as the long term solution, but Minshew is the better quarterback right now and they clearly want to reach playoff contention. But, even with that said, they could still easily just start Minshew one or two more games and raise his trade value before shipping him off for another pick.
The Eagles went out of their way to bring Minshew in, but refuse to use him to his fullest extent or trade him for value. I don’t get that.
I don’t think Philly sees Hurts as the long term starter. But, they wanted to give him a chance to see what he had this year; now they want to see what he has next year too before going all in. What he’s lacking will hold him back from being what they need. They should move him to somebody else that thinks he could be a starting QB and let Minshew be that bridge here to the QB they draft and groom.
I mean, that sounds like they see him as a long term prospect, right? What’s the point of evaluating what Hurts has if Philly doesn’t consider the longer term option between him and Minshew? If they only see Minshew as a backup, they’d be smart to get his value up with a few starts and then nabbing a decent pick for him. If they think he’s too valuable to ship, they should give him an honest chance at starting and not cling to Hurts just for the sake of clinging to an unproven QB. I don’t really see what the strategy is here for the Eagles, in all honesty.
Philadelphia could safely shelf Jalen Hurts as a long term backup. I don’t think there’s a lineup for his talents. Hurts was a late second round pick so the end of third round comp pick is a step down but it also includes four years of inexpensive rental of BU/gadget QB.
Minshew looks starter calibre for sure. Play out the season with Minshew. Rostering two starter-calibre QB’s has worked out well for Philadelphia in the past.
Ugh, why
Gardner Minshew is an actual QB who can throw the ball. Jalen Hurts is a running back QB who is basically a poor man’s Lamar Jackson and can’t get 200 passing yards in a game. If Lamar Jackson can’t be successful in the playoffs Hurts has zero chance. Give Gardner a fair shot.
oh please. Minshew isnt the answer for this team. He had a few good games to start off 2019 and has rode that overinflated reputation since then. it was the freakin Jets he beat. the reason the team isnt giving him a chance to start is they’re going the same darn thing with Hurts. does Minshew have a higher floor. certainly. however, 2021 isnt about scraping your way into the playoffs and still not knowing what your long term QB situation is.
And Hurts bombed the week before against an equally bad Giants team.
Okay? That was one game, and one they would have won actually if Jalen Reagor didnt become Evan Engram for a series. I cant look at look at Minshew beating a bad team and say he’s better than Hurts because of that. Hurts has beat several better teams this year.
It’s the only action Minshew has as an Eagles so it’s all we can consider apples to apples. Which by the way reminds us Minshew didn’t have an Eagles mini camp or training camp and never worked with the 1s until the Wednesday of that game week. His command of that offense was extremely efficient considering that.
He played for the Jaguars by that logic Trevor Lawrence is a bum too for only having 2 wins this year.
so what? that doesnt mean because he couldn’t prove himself that he deserves the benefit of the doubt. this is the NFL.