A lot of questions loom over the Philadelphia Eagles going into the 2026 NFL season. After a disappointing Super Bowl title defense, which ended with a Wild Card round exit, there could be concerns about the team.

Management, coaches and the players will be under a microscope, and if it results in another unsuccessful year, there could be changes. Jalen Hurts will be one of the players who could deal with scrutiny from the contentious Philadelphia fans. Let’s analyze Hurts and his outlook for the 2026 NFL season and see if he and the Eagles can rebound.

Evaluating Jalen Hurts Stock Ahead Of 2026

Was Jalen Hurts That Bad Last Season?

Hurts received harsh criticism at times during the 2025 season, but was it justified? Last year, he finished 16th with 3,224 passing yards, which is not ideal for a franchise quarterback competing for a title, but it was an improvement over 2024, when he was 20th with 2,903 passing yards.

However, if you dig a little deeper, some of his metrics regressed: his 0.01 EPA per dropback was tied for the lowest of his career, and his 64.8% completion percentage was the second-lowest.

This isn’t a case where you can blame it on the offensive line because they played well; their 20.2% pressure rate allowed ranked 11th in the league, and the 2.5-second average time to throw was tied for the most.

The expectations for Hurts to be a top-tier passer may not be as high as others because he can utilize his mobility.

Unfortunately, his rushing stats also dipped this past season. In 2024, his 630 rushing yards ranked third among quarterbacks; in 2025, that fell to 421, which was sixth. He also saw a drop in rush EPA from +51.5 (third) in 2024 to +21.4 (ninth).

That is a big concern for Hurts, who relies on his legs, and for the Eagles, who finished sixth last season with a 47.5% run-play rate.

The A.J. Brown Situation As It Pertains To Jalen Hurts

The elephant in the room needs to be addressed. Will Brown suit up for Philadelphia in 2026?

The saga between Brown and the Eagles unfolded throughout the season, with the Eagles’ wide receiver venting his frustrations about his role in the offense. That culminated in a heated altercation between him and head coach Nick Sirianni following the Wild Card Round loss to the 49ers.

Nobody in the Eagles’ front office or coaching staff has indicated that Brown will be traded, but the rumors have been a hot topic throughout the offseason.

Brown had an exceptional 2025 season, marking the fourth straight year he caught for at least 1,000 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns.

Some believe DeVonta Smith is good enough to be a top option, and if Brown leaves, the former Heisman Trophy winner could take over that role. Philadelphia signed Hollywood Brown, and the veteran could be a viable second option. They re-signed tight end Dallas Goedert, and Saquon Barkley is one of the best dual-threat running backs in the league. 

The loss of Brown would not be ideal, but there are plenty of pieces available for Hurts in the passing offense.

Does the Eagles’ Schedule do Jalen Hurts any Favors?

The NFL is different from other professional sports because teams do not play everyone, so the schedule is a factor.

The Eagles’ schedule has some tough opponents. Of the 14 teams they face, eight made the playoffs last season. The defenses Hurts will face are more favorable; only three ranked last year in the top 10 in fantasy points allowed per game to quarterbacks (Seahawks, Texans, Panthers).

This could mean the Eagles will have a tough road to the playoffs, but Hurts and the offense could contend in most of them.

The 2026 Fantasy Outlook for Jalen Hurts

When Hurts is playing at his best, he is one of the league's top quarterbacks with three Pro Bowls and a second-place finish in MVP voting. His mobility and ability to gain positive yards with his legs make him tough to contain in the pocket, and while his arm talent isn’t elite, he can push the ball vertically when needed.

We’ve seen that when the Eagles’ locker room is in turmoil, it affects the performance on the field. Last year’s early playoff exit proved that, as did 2023, when they lost six of their final seven games. If there hadn’t been a Super Bowl win in between, there might have been huge changes this offseason.

If the tension affecting the team carries over into the upcoming year, the Eagles could be in for a tough season. However, if Hurts can show his true potential, with the surrounding cast on both sides of the ball, they have the potential to hoist another Lombardi Trophy, and Hurts could be primed to carry his fantasy faithful to glory as well. He currently carries a consensus rank of QB6 in our fantasy football rankings, and checks in as the QB2 in overall fantasy football projections at the QB position, making him a worthwhile click as the QB5 off the board on Underdog's fantasy football ADP.