The quarterback position has been a hot topic across Raider Nation after another disappointing season with Derek Carr at the helm. The fan base is split in half on who the next quarterback should be, and the draft always proves to be intriguing with Jon Gruden as the head coach.
The Raiders currently have seven picks throughout the draft and could trade back to accumulate more picks. While it’s not likely they will take a quarterback in the first round, the Raiders will have the opportunity at a developmental prospect on day two and three. A player that has been tied to the Raiders in many reports is Oklahoma Sooners senior quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Hurts started off his career off at Alabama, starting as a true freshman for the crimson tide. He started two full seasons where he threw 40 touchdowns and also rushing for another 21. He was famously replaced by Tua Tagavagloa during the national championship game and never got his job back.
This season he got another opportunity with the Sooners, and he flourished, earning the honor of being a Heisman finalist. He finished the season with over 5,000 yards of total offense with 52 total touchdowns rushing and receiving. He helped lead his football team to another college football playoff birth but falling short to the eventual national champion LSU.
After a decent senior bowl, Hurts did well at combine during drills and succeeded in the interviews. Being a coach’s son makes him an intelligent player on the whiteboard where he can shine. However, What does the tape say?
Pros: Running ability
Jalen Hurts running ability is the best trait he brings to the table. He is excellent with the ball in his hands and is a bruiser in the open field. This is why he was able to rack up 3274 yards rushing in his career with 43 touchdowns playing college football.
He thrives running the zone read in the red zone. He does an excellent job of reading his keys, understanding when to hold onto the ball, or handoff. He reads linebackers at a high level and rarely makes the wrong decision that makes him deadly inside the ten. He could help there immediately day one.
The value of a quarterback that can move with athletic ability is added plus in today’s NFL. Hurst fits that mold of the evolution of the quarterback position.
Pros: Accuracy in rhythm
I know a few people would disagree with this based on the perceptions around Hurts. But he displayed to be more accurate than I thought to go into his film. When Hurts is in rhythm, he can be accurate with the football.
This throw below is the perfect example of how Hurts can throw the football. He has the tight end running a post route in the middle of the field. He does an excellent job, and seeing his target is heading towards the linebacker and throw the football back shoulder. He hits him with a pretty ball leading to a first down.
When Hurts is in rhythm he is a pretty accurate QB. Love how he throws the ball back shoulder away from the linebacker into a tight window. One of his best throws I watched. pic.twitter.com/SpcdxHrTJJ
— Marc John (@TheMarcJohnNFL) April 17, 2020
You see this all over his film and display he has the potential to be a quarterback at the next level if he stays in rhythm. There are items you can build when you can be accurate with the football.
Cons: Mental processing
When it comes to quarterback, traits are important, but nothing is more important than processing what’s in front of you. Usually, when you struggle in college with this, it follows you to the NFL. This is Hurts’ biggest issue when playing the quarterback position.
Hurts leaves a ton of plays on the field and just doesn’t see the field like you would want a from a pro prospect. He consistently misses open receivers, not being sure of what he is seeing or waiting for throwing lanes to be completely open.
The play below is a perfect example where it is third and 4 in a critical moment. Hurts read is Lamb to the left on the slant but thinks the linebacker is staying in the throwing lane to cut off the slant. What he doesn’t see is the linebacker heading towards the flat, leaving a path to Lamb for a first.
Since he comes off of Lamb to quickly and goes to the flat the play, it isn’t open anymore and tucks and settles for a field goal.
Here is another example against Iowa state, where he misses a wide-open player on the crossing route. It is all over his tape and makes you wonder if he can actually play quarterback at the next level.
Cons: Pocket Presence
Another important quarterback area is pocket presence, and it’s not an area where Hurts excels. He can be jittery in the pocket and quick to bail at any sign of pressure leading to leaving plays on the field or turnovers.
He doesn’t have a great feel if he has to maneuver through the pocket when it starts to collapse in him and doesn’t have the best feeling of when rushers are coming around him. There were plenty of times on tape where he could slide or step up and have a big throw to a wide-open receiver. This also causes him to fumble at a high rate because he can’t feel what is going on around him.
He just doesn’t have the pocket instinct that you would like to see in an NFL quarterback and will need to improve there tremendously to succeed at the next level. The scary part with pocket presence is you either have it or you don’t.
Fit with the Raiders
Hurts is an interesting prospect because his character is high, and a team might fall in love with him. However, his tape leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to pure quarterback play. I 100 percent believe that Hurts could digest the Gruden offense with his football IQ at the level where it is.
But he would need so much development as a QB anything’s before day 3 seems like a stretch for the Raiders. I doubt Mayock just takes a QB to take one, and the rumors say he values Hurts late day 2 or Day 3. Those are good spots for Hurts where he can help right away in the red zone while he develops behind Derek Carr or even compete with Mariota.
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