Hurts, Eagles sign record extension through 2025

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles and franchise Quarterback Jalen Hurts came to an agreement on a 5-year $255 million dollar contract, including $179 million guaranteed along with a no-trade clause, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Hurts is being remunerated after an MVP-caliber 2023 campaign, which saw the QB put up career numbers across the board. 4400 yards from scrimmage along with 35 total touchdowns was enough for Hurts to come in second in MVP voting to Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes who the Birds QB would also fall short against in Super Bowl 57.

Hurts heroic efforts throughout the 2022-23 season eventually did earn his team an appearance in Super Bowl 57, during which the former 2020 second-round pick threw for one touchdown on 304 yards, compiling a 103.4 Passer Rating. The Birds did of course come up short as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs arose victorious from what many considered one of the best Super Bowls of the modern era much to the effect of Hurts.

As 2023 nears, Jalen Hurts is just one of many young QB’s looking for a big-time payday. The likes of Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Trevor Lawrence all have been rumored to be searching for record contracts.

Getting ahead of the clip, and setting standards has been something General Manager Howie Roseman has been a master at during his time with the Eagles. And by getting a Hurts contract out of the way before other teams can unload on their quarterbacks, it sets a new standard for franchise QB contracts across the league. Hurts contract sets the record for average salary in an NFL contract, the deal will pay the former Oklahoma QB close to a $60 million dollar average during his five seasons under the new pact.

Roseman’s quick acting will now force teams like the Bengals, Ravens, Chargers, and Jaguars to pay their guy big money, most likely surpassing Hurts $255 mark. Multiple NFL execs spoke out today making it clear that by as early as next season “Hurts deal could look like a steal for the Birds with some of the money being thrown around by these clubs”.

Now cautious optimism about Hurts deal has been raised as many have voiced concerns that the Eagles will now be limited in other facets of their spending throughout the next five to six years, having to arbitrate with the new contract. However, as NFL contracts become more and more valuable and the association's brand continues to grow through the 2020s, the league salary cap could begin expanding at nearly a 7% clip over the course of the next few years. This would put the league's cap at somewhere in the realm of $280 million by 2028 when Hurts’ contract will be set to expire.

In the present, fans can rest easy knowing that the Eagles have their franchise Quarterback locked in for the next six seasons. With a top offense in the league accompanied by a young and hungry defense, the Eagles will look to be a contender once again for years to come.