What happened: The annual ESPN evaluation polled coaches, scouts, and executives on the league's top passers, leaving Jalen Hurts in the honorable mention tier behind 16 total players. Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, Drake Maye, Jared Goff, and Caleb Williams occupied the top 10 spots. An AFC offensive coach praised the quarterback's toughness and championship intangibles despite the up-and-down nature of his passing production.

Why it matters: The drop reflects a divide between evaluators who prioritize his second-most wins in the NFL since 2022 and those pointing to declining rushing numbers alongside multi-year passing inconsistencies. He currently ranks 12th among quarterbacks in annual contract value, making his performance during the upcoming 2026 season critical for future extension negotiations. Adapting to Sean Mannion's offensive scheme will directly impact whether the Philadelphia Eagles invest top-10 money in their starter moving forward.

What to watch: Front-office executives and scouts will monitor how the quarterback executes the offense during upcoming training camp practices. The timing of potential contract negotiations ahead of the regular-season opener serves as the next benchmark for how organizational leadership views his long-term valuation.