Insider explains how Eagles could part ways with Jalen Hurts

The Philadelphia Eagles are leaning towards keeping Nick Sirianni as their head coach despite a rough second half of the season. According to Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk, the Eagles could theoretically trade quarterback Jalen Hurts this offseason. Hurts signed a five-year extension worth up to $255 million with $179.3 million guaranteed last spring. Florio notes that a pre-June 1 trade would result in a manageable cap hit of $18.632 million for 2024, freeing up cap space for the team in 2025.

Jalen Hurts has a full no-trade clause in his contract. In the 2023 regular season, he ranked 12th in adjusted QBR, 15th in completion percentage (65.4%), and tied for 13th in passing touchdowns (23). Despite his impressive 15 rushing scores (tied for second), he also threw 15 interceptions, with only two quarterbacks throwing more. Beyond the stats, there are concerns about his leadership style, with some in the Eagles organization feeling he needs to be more outwardly supportive, especially during challenging times. This has led to speculation about the Eagles exploring the possibility of him waiving his no-trade clause.

Recent reports suggest that Jalen Hurts has undergone changes in demeanor since signing his $255 million contract extension. Sources within and around the team express disappointment, feeling that Hurts, despite his capabilities, should have shown better leadership. From a financial standpoint, his contract includes $82 million in full guarantees over the next two years and $133 million over the next three. Despite these substantial figures, in the NFL’s flexible salary cap landscape, they might not be considered deal-breakers, as the league’s cap is often seen as more flexible than perceived.
Although there’s no current indication that the Eagles plan to part ways with Jalen Hurts before this year’s draft, the dynamic nature of the NFL means situations can evolve rapidly. A recent example is the Cleveland Browns, who initially seemed unlikely to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans

However, the landscape shifted when Watson was offered a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract, altering his stance.