Will Friday be Jalen Hurts’ day?
The former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback, who slipped out of the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night, could land in New England as early as pick No. 37.
“There’s word out that they like Jalen Hurts from Oklahoma,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. previously said of the Patriots’ interest on WEEI.
“I’m not buying No. 23 but, if they move out of the first round they could they look at Jalen Hurts in the second,” he continued.
The Patriots did follow that script, trading with the Chargers out of the first round own five selections for Friday, starting with No. 37.
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Patriots could utilize Hurts 'in packages' a la Lamar Jackson
Should the Patriots add Hurts, it’s been speculated he could play a unique part in the offense, according to Kiper.
“He can be used in packages and do with him what they did with Lamar Jackson his rookie year in Baltimore,” he said.
Jackson was selected 32nd overall by the Ravens in 2018, and played in specific play-sets for his rookie season behind Joe Flacco before taking over the starting job.
Jackson became a dominant dual-threat quarterback in his second season, capturing the MVP.
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He's the best quarterback still available
Getty Images Ranked as the fifth-best signal-caller of this year’s draft by The Post, Hurts remains the most notable available ahead of Washington’s Jacob Eason and Georgia’s Jake Fromm. Described as an “athletic dual-threat,” the 6-foot-2, 219-pound quarterback also holds a record of 38-4 as a college starter for Alabama and then Oklahoma.
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The Steelers could also grab him in Round 2
Given the Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers’ heir apparent Thursday night with Utah State’s Jordan Love, the Steelers might consider Hurts as their quarterback of the future post-Ben Roethlisberger.
“Pittsburgh, I had heard has an interest. I don’t know if it is true,” Kiper also said on WEEI. “That is why I gave him to the Steelers as the heir apparent to Big Ben [Roethlisberger] if he’s capable of being that guy. I think Hurts is the interesting guy right now at quarterback. He’s moved up probably as much as anybody.”
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He holds Nick Saban in high regard
Getty Images Hurts will forever remember his three years with Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.
“Nick Saban is a legendary guy, a stand-up guy,” Hurts said in an interview with KHOU-11, via 24/7 Sports.
“Just going to the University of Alabama, I decided to go there because there were a lot of similarities between me and him: the competitive nature, work ethic and drive we had to be successful and be dominant. That drove me to go there. To see the relationship that we have is still maintained is cool, to be a guy I always have there supporting me, he’ll always be a friend to me for sure.”
Hurts transferred to Oklahoma in 2019 after new Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa usurped him as the starter at Alabama.