During his introductory press conference (which went less than ideal, by the way) new Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni alluded to the possibility of an open compeition at the quarterback position, but didn’t formally commit to anything. During his debut interview with SportsRadio 94.WIP, Sirianni seemed a little more inclined to the possibility.
When asked directly about what the plan was moving forward at QB, Sirianni had this to say on the matter:
"“Yeah, you know, a core value, like you just mentioned, is competition. And that’s competition at quarterback, that’s competition with the wide receivers, that’s competition with the DBs, that’s competition everywhere. And so it’s just — everybody is going to compete…Yeah. Everybody. Everybody in this situation competing. Players, coaches, every position.”"
While Sirianni never directly stated that QBs Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts would be battling it out in training camp, he at least hinted at it. While it’s still uncertain what Wentz’ future looks like at the moment, the potential for a QB competition this offseason hovers above the Philadelphia Eagles organization.
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Pros and cons to an “open completion” at QB for the Philadelphia Eagles.
With that in mind – there are both pros and cons to consider.
PRO – Competition (normally) brings out the best in players
For the most part, competition during training camp can help elevate players to a status that they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to achieve. Carson Wentz has been operating as an essentially untouchable starter for quite some time now, maybe having someone properly push him during camp is the extra motivation he needs to return to his previous, borderline elite form.
CON – Further damaging the relationship with Carson Wentz
It’s become repetitive at this point, but the Eagles relationship with Wentz is definitely a bad one. Due to poor coaching and poor roster construction, the organization has really caused their former franchise QB to sour on things.
Forcing Wentz to “compete” for his job this summer would only put further strain on the situation.
PRO – Gives Sirianni an honest look at Jalen Hurts
When Nick Sirianni was hired, the general consensus was that it was a “Wentz hire”, due to Sirianni’s connection to former Eagles offensive coordinator (and longtime Wentz supporter) Frank Reich. While that may be true, who’s to say Sirianni couldn’t build a good offense with Jalen Hurts? I personally haven’t seen enough from Hurts to label him a future starter, but who knows what Sirianni could be thinking.
A true open competition in training camp at least gives Sirianni the chance to evaluable the former Alabama/Oklahoma prospect.
CON – Forced to prepare “two” offenses
Say what you will about Hurts’ running ability, he’s simply not a natural thrower. His completion percentage sat at 52.0% last year – which ranked as one of the worst in the entire NFL.
If the Eagles were to have a proper competition this offseason, players and coaches alike would essentially be working with two entirely different play styles. Wentz is a more stereotypical “gunslinger”, whereas Hurts embodies that more “run-first” mentality.
CON – Further controversy
The Philadelphia Eagles, collectively, have been shrouded in controversy the last few seasons. Whether it was the lasting aura of Nick Foles, “anonymous sources”, or the perceived notion of a front office/coaching staff power struggle – there’s always something with this team.
Whether we like it or not, walking into training camp with an open competition between Wentz and Hurts adds yet another layer of controversy to the franchise.
Ultimately speaking, there’s still no guarantee that both Wentz and Hurts will be around come training camp. Wentz’ name continues to be circulated in trade discussions, and I’d argue that Hurts’ position on the roster isn’t solidified either. However, if both do end up hanging around this offseason, the potential for an open competition this summer would definitely be a story worth following – for a plethora of reasons.