Jalen Hurts Ranked 17th? Inside the NFL QB Rankings Controversy

What Are These QB Rankings Anyway?

Every year, a reporter named Mike Sando (who works for The Athletic) asks a big group of NFL experts to rank all the starting quarterbacks. Think of it like a "report card" for QBs, but the teachers are people who actually work in the NFL.

Who voted this year?

• 8 General Managers (the bosses who pick players)
• 5 Assistant GMs
• 5 Former GMs
• 3 Other executives
• 9 Head Coaches
• 10 Defensive Coordinators (coaches who plan how to stop the other team’s offense)
• 5 Offensive Coordinators (coaches who plan how to score)
• 2 Offensive Assistants
• 1 Defensive Assistant
• 2 Analytics/Game Management Coaches

Important Point: Just because someone has a fancy NFL job doesn’t mean they’re always right! Even experts disagree sometimes.

The 2026 Rankings: Top 16 Quarterbacks (Hurts Is #17)

Here are the 16 quarterbacks the panel put ahead of Jalen Hurts:

1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
2. Josh Allen, Bills
3. Matthew Stafford, Rams (Note: Original text says Bills, but Stafford plays for Rams)
4. Joe Burrow, Bengals
5. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
6. Justin Herbert, Chargers
7. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
8. Drake Maye, Patriots
9. Jared Goff, Lions
10. Jordan Love, Packers
11. Brock Purdy, 49ers
12. Caleb Williams, Bears
13. Jayden Daniels, Commanders
14. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
15. Sam Darnold, Seahawks
16. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
17. Jalen Hurts, Eagles ← Our guy!

Wait… Herbert at #6 and Hurts at #17?

Jimmy Kempski (the author) is confused. Here’s why:

Key Question: If "results matter," how is there that big a gap between #6 and #17? Herbert might be more "talented" on paper, but Hurts wins games — including a championship.

What the Anonymous NFL Folks Said (And Jimmy’s Replies)

Quote #1: "Chaos Around Hurts"

Defensive Coordinator: "Philly just won it all not too long ago, but I think of all the bulls— he had to deal with. They are not on the same page, going through different coordinators, and all the s— he had to deal with regarding A.J. Brown."

#JimmySays: Fair point! Hurts has had a new Offensive Coordinator every season. That’s like getting a new math teacher every year — hard to build chemistry. But other QBs get excuses made for them nationally; Hurts doesn’t.

Quote #2: "He Only Throws Slants and Go-Balls"

General Manager: "Hurts can throw slants and go-balls. Is there anybody better at running slants and go-balls than A.J. Brown?"

#JimmySays:

• Slant = A quick, diagonal route across the middle
• Go-ball = A straight sprint down the field (deep throw)

A.J. Brown was great at deep routes his first 2-3 years in Philly. In 2025? Not so much. Also, saying Hurts only throws these two routes is silly. He has struggled using the middle of the field lately, but that could be the scheme (play design), not just him.

Quote #3: "He Only Wins on Lucky Deep Throws"

Defensive Coach: "You don’t want to count on Hurts to win a game unless it’s a go-ball — a 50-50 ball — except he’s had A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to catch it. His best plays are off schedule. It’ll become less sustainable as he gets older. And you can’t keep cycling through coordinators."

#JimmySays:

• Off-schedule plays = When the play breaks down and the QB improvises
• Jimmy disagrees: Hurts should be better at improvising given his athleticism, but often runs out of bounds and throws the ball away instead of making magic happen.
• Also — Hurts is 57-25 in the regular season and 6-4 in playoffs. He’s won plenty of games without chucking it deep and praying. Calling that "idiotic" is Jimmy’s word, not mine!

Quote #4: "Can the New Coach Adapt to Hurts?"

Executive: "Matt LaFleur met Aaron Rodgers halfway when implementing a new offense in Green Bay. I’ll be curious to see if Sean Mannion has the feel to marry what he wants to do with what Jalen does well, or do they say, ‘Jalen, you have to do this’?"

#JimmySays: Fair. This is a legit concern. Good coaches adapt their system to the QB’s strengths. Bad coaches force the QB into a box.

Key Takeaways

The Big Picture:

• Jalen Hurts finished 17th in a poll of NFL insiders
• Many voters downplay his winning record (57-25 regular season, 6-4 playoffs, Super Bowl champ)
• Critics say he’s a "system QB" who only throws slants and go-balls
• Jimmy argues: The criticism ignores context (constant coordinator changes, A.J. Brown’s 2025 dip) and results (you know, winning)
• The new Offensive Coordinator (Sean Mannion) is a huge storyline for 2026 — will he build around Hurts, or force Hurts into his system?

Summary

Mike Sando’s annual QB Tiers had Jalen Hurts at #17 — behind guys like Justin Herbert (0-3 in playoffs) and rookies like Drake Maye and Caleb Williams. Anonymous NFL coaches and execs questioned Hurts’ passing variety, claimed he only wins on "lucky" deep balls, and worried about coordinator turnover. Jimmy Kempski pushes back hard: Hurts wins at an elite rate, has dealt with more chaos than most QBs, and deserves a system that fits him — not the other way around. The 2026 season with new OC Sean Mannion will tell us a lot.

FAQ

Who is Mike Sando and why does his QB ranking matter?

Mike Sando is a respected NFL reporter for The Athletic. His annual "QB Tiers" article surveys dozens of actual NFL decision-makers (GMs, coaches, coordinators). It’s considered a "insider’s view" of how the league evaluates quarterbacks — not just media hype.

What’s the difference between a "slant" and a "go-ball"?

• Slant: Receiver runs a few yards, then cuts diagonally across the middle. Quick, high-percentage throw.
• Go-ball (or "fly route"): Receiver sprints straight down the field. Low-percentage, high-reward "home run" throw.

Why does Jimmy keep mentioning "coordinator changes"?

The Offensive Coordinator (OC) designs the plays and calls the game. Hurts has had a different OC every year: Shane Steichen (2022), Brian Johnson (2023), Kellen Moore (2024), now Sean Mannion (2025). Learning a new "language" every season is really hard for a QB.

Is Justin Herbert actually better than Jalen Hurts?

Depends on what you value. Herbert has "better tools" (arm strength, size, perfect mechanics). Hurts has better results (wins, playoff success, Super Bowl ring). The voters leaned toward "tools." Jimmy leans toward "results."

Who is Sean Mannion and why does he matter?

Sean Mannion is the Eagles’ new Offensive Coordinator for 2026. He was a longtime backup QB (Rams, Vikings, Seahawks) and recently a QB coach. This is his first OC job. The big question: Will he tailor the offense to Hurts’ strengths, or force Hurts to run his system?

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