After Howie Roseman selected Jalen Hurts in the second round right after signing Carson Wentz to a massive four-year $128 million contract, Eagles’ fans collectively lost their minds. Flash forward three years later and Jalen Hurts is an MVP contender and has those same fans singing his name from the rooftops.

As of this writing, Hurts currently sits 3rd in MVP odds at 6/1 odds (via DraftKings). If you want to throw in a future bet on the Eagles QB, there’s over $400 in FREE MONEY, plus a bunch of risk-free and second chance bets for new users on multiple betting sites. Remember to bet responsibly by using the links below to sign up.

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Jalen Hurts completed his 24th regular season start at Arizona this Sunday, rushing for two touchdowns in the Eagles closer than necessary 17-14 win. Those scores bring his regular season career passing/rushing touchdowns to 44, overtaking Donovan McNabb for the fourth most in Eagles franchise history.

Some of the most elite names who have ever quarterbacked the Philadelphia Eagles stand ahead of Hurts at the moment. Eagles legend Sonny Jurgensen totaled 50 touchdowns from 1957-1962, while Michael Vick went for 49 in his stint. The most surprising stat I found was that Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles holds the record with 50 touchdowns in his first 24 starts with the Birds. However, there is a small asterisk over his 25th start.

Chip Kelly infamously traded Foles to the Rams in exchange for Sammy “Long Sleeves” Bradford before the 2014 season and St. Nick’s 25th regular season start for the Eagles. His first with the Rams brought him to 52 total touchdowns, with one passing and one rushing.

But, in his first game back as the Eagles starter after Carson Wentz’s injury in 2017, Foles tossed four touchdowns against the Giants in Week 14. Technically, that was his 25th regular-season start for the Eagles, so his total would be 54, further adding to the BDN lore.

Jalen Hurts vs 2010s Quarterbacks

In his 25th regular season start, Patrick Mahomes broke the long-standing NFL record for most passing/rushing touchdowns with 70, passing Dan Marino’s record of 68 in 1984. While Mahomes remains way ahead of the pack, Jalen Hurts will join some elite company regarding quarterbacks drafted since 2010.

There have been plenty of mobile quarterbacks throughout the NFL’s history, but Michael Vick broadly popularized the viability of a true dual-threat signal caller in the 2000s. Several teams tried to duplicate that dynamic weapon behind center for an entire decade as EJ Manuel and Geno Smith were both drafted in the top 40 in 2013.

Robert Griffin III and Colin Kaepernick took the league by storm in 2012, and this new-class of quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Kyler Murray are more dangerous as runners than pure passers.

Heading into his 25th career regular-season start, Jalen Hurts has thrown for 25 touchdowns and rushed for 19 more for a total of 44. He surpassed Colin Kaepernick’s 43 total touchdowns in his first 25 starts and now has his eyes set on the men above him. In particular, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, and Josh Allen.

Some thoughts:

• Patrick Mahomes is just a different breed
• Holy Justin Herbert! Only his 3rd year and he’s nearing the top of the class
• Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, #1 and #2 picks in 2015, have the same career
• Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, #1 and #2 in 2016, have the same career. Both had 39 passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in their first 25 career starts. You just can’t make that up.

It may anger some (me) that Dak Prescott sits ahead of Jalen Hurts through their first 25 regular season starts. Sure, Jerry Jones handed Dak one of the best offensive lines in NFL history and an all-time running back in his prime, but I know deep down that Jalen Hurts is better. Well, there is some good news.

In Prescott’s 26th and 27th regular season starts, he scored ZERO touchdowns, passing or rushing, and threw five interceptions with one lost fumble. Jalen Hurts might not beat Dak’s touchdown total this week, but the Eagles QB1 can stomp on the Cowboys in front of him and overtake his total within his next two starts. Dallas Week has officially begun…

Photo Credit: Duane Burleson/AP