QB Swap Talk

Occasionally I will listen to ESPN Radio on my drive to work. They will have an interesting discussion if there is a major sporting event or something topical to discuss. The show goes off the rails when things are quiet and they share questionable opinions. That’s what happened a couple of days ago.

Harry Douglas was talking about Jayden Daniels. He had a ton of praise for the young QB. Nothing wrong with that opinion. Daniels looks like a special player. But Douglas said something that bordered on asinine. He said that the Eagles fans he knows have told him they would trade Jalen Hurts for Daniels in a heartbeat.

Say what?

I don’t think there is a question that Daniels has more raw talent. There is a reason he went second overall while Hurts fell to the second round. Daniels is a more explosive runner and has a stronger arm. He was a more polished passer coming out of college. Then Daniels went and had an amazing rookie season. He has the potential to be a great player.

But Hurts just won the Super Bowl. I’m sure there are a small percentage of Eagles fans who would trade him, but the vast majority wouldn’t trade him for anyone. Winning a Super Bowl in Philly makes you special. Donovan McNabb had a better career than Nick Foles, but Foles won the SB so that makes him the hero. Hurts has a chance to go down in history as one of the greatest Philly athletes of all time. He’s still got a lot of football left to play. Hurts isn’t just special because of what he does on the field.

.@LaneJohnson65 on what makes Jalen Hurts a great leader for the Eagles:

“His personality and how he handles the brashness of how Philadelphia can be. He’s the perfect even keel temperament we need.” pic.twitter.com/uX6xFhGN3v

— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) June 27, 2025

Maybe Douglas only knows a couple of Eagles fans. It didn’t sound that way when he made his comment. Maybe he was just trying to stir the pot. I just found the comment so strange that I felt the need to address the general topic.

Football is unlike basketball and baseball. To some extent, those are plug ‘n play sports. Shortstop is shortstop. Jimmy Rollins played it better than Steve Jeltz, but the position was the same. The role of a point guard in basketball is going to mostly be the same from team to team. The player playing the position can make it different, but the role is the role.

Football is scheme driven and positions can have very different requirements. Matt Stafford and Jalen Hurts both play QB. The offenses and requirements of them are very different. Both guys have won SBs. Stafford has a solid shot to make the Hall of Fame. Hurts isn’t even half-way through his career. It will be interesting to see where he stands when all is said and done.

Comparing QBs is tricky business because of all the nuance involved. Are we judging players purely on physical talent? QBs tend to get judged on team success as well. How do we factor in the supporting cast?

I watched John Elway lead the Broncos to three Super Bowls in four years. They lost to the Giants in 1986, the Skins in 1987 and the Niners in 1989. None of those teams won more than 11 games. There wasn’t anything great about them. Elway came up big in key moments and carried those teams to the big game. Denver got better coaching and better players over the years. They won the SB in 1997 and 1998. Those teams were much better. Elway didn’t have to do as much, but won two rings.

Elway was more individually impressive when he was on lesser teams. He had to do more and he did. That’s why more than a few people from my generation think he’s such a special player.

Happy Birthday John Elway.#BroncosCountry #Broncos pic.twitter.com/JUhuqaYMoz

— Old Time Football (@Ol_TimeFootball) June 28, 2023

Jayden Daniels is the right QB for Washington. He was a huge part of that team going from awful to the NFC title game. Jalen Hurts is the right QB for the Eagles. He has led the team to two SBs in three seasons. I can’t stress how impressive that is. Some people love to say any QB would have gotten to those SBs because of how talented the roster is. What a load of crap.

Part of being a QB is being a leader and setting the tone for your team. Hurts does a great job of that. Think about how focused he was in the SB, even with the Eagles firmly in command. He didn’t want to let up at all. Hurts focus and determination helps his team show up in big games.

Aaron Rodgers won a SB in 2010. He played on some loaded Packers teams after that, but never made it back. Lamar Jackson has played on some loaded Ravens teams, but he’s struggled mightily in the postseason. Having talent around you guarantees nothing.

I think Dak is a good QB. He does come up short in the postseason. It’s absurd to deny he had this team and didn’t even make the title game.

How are they not embarrassed pretending he’s played with bums his entire career? pic.twitter.com/c6uhHYXYjL

— Kei (@RealMamaEagle) July 9, 2025

Right now Hurts is the perfect QB for the Eagles. That doesn’t mean he’s the best QB in the league, but he’s the right guy for this team and this coaching staff. Hurts says the right things and does the right things. He helps the players around him perform at a high level. Hurts gets them to buy into the team mentality. There is a little griping here and there, but that happens to any team with a bunch of stars. Everyone wants the ball. Hurts gets them to think We Before Me.

I’m not sure how you quantify that.

One way would be…two SB appearances and one SB ring.

*****

I will write a separate post about Jalen in the coming weeks, trying to evaluate him as a QB. Where does he rank in the league and why?

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