This has become not so much an interesting challenge every year, but a practice in futility. Two years ago, we completely underestimated Jalen Hurts in our little fun exercise, with Hurts coming out 4-13 over the 17 games we predicted in the quarterback challenge. It was terribly wrong in 2022. Last year, it went the complete opposite direction, with only Patrick Mahomes considered better than Hurts. That did not work too well, either.
Then again, coming off a season in which Hurts was 14-1 as a starter, commanding a team that was expected to repeat as NFC East Division champions, expected to go deep into the playoffs, at least back to the NFC championship, and possibly the Super Bowl, much was expected of Hurts.