The Dallas Cowboys‘ Dak Prescott and Philadelphia Eagles‘ Jalen Hurts are often compared to each other, given they’re divisional rivals and two of the best quarterbacks in the NFC. On Thursday’s episode of First Take on ESPN, the panelists were asked which quarterback they have more trust in for 2024, and Stephen A. Smith was shocked that this was even up for debate.
Stephen A. Smith Weighs In on Dak Prescott-Jalen Hurts Debate
After a disappointing season for a very talented unit, the Eagles’ offense received a big boost in free agency by signing RB Saquon Barkley away from the New York Giants.
Their addition of Barkley has Stephen A. Smith expecting a bounce-back season from Hurts and certainly a better 2024 than Prescott, whose Cowboys have been mostly inactive in free agency.
“Is that a trick question?” asked Smith on ESPN’s First Take. “Why the hell would I have more faith in Dak Prescott over Jalen Hurts?
“Jalen Hurts just got Saquon [Barkley]. Jalen Hurts still got A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert, and an offensive line I would challenge is better than the Dallas Cowboys.”
“Why on earth would I have an issue with Jalen Hurts, thinking that Jalen Hurts wouldn’t be considered having a reason to have more faith than Dak Prescott”” Smith continued. “Of course I’m going to pick Jalen Hurts in this particular question, Mina [Kimes]. Without question.”
However, while Smith firmly believes Hurts is the answer to the question, Kimes firmly disagrees. “Because he played significantly better than Jalen Hurts last season would be my answer, I mean, by any stretch of the imagination,” said Kimes in response to Smith.
“Dak Prescott, second in passer rating, Jalen Hurts 20th. Dak Prescott, second in QBR. Jalen Hurts, 12th. Dak Prescott, second in completion percentage. Jalen Hurts, 15th,” Kimes explained. “Jalen Hurts struggled greatly against the blitz, which, of course, kind of proved to be their undoing in the postseason.”
“I do think Jalen can rebound from what we saw last season. I think he’s a better quarterback than the one we saw for much of the season, but particularly the second half,” said Kimes.
“However, Dak Prescott played quarterback at such a higher level than Jalen. Yes, the Eagles have a better offensive line, even with the loss of Jason Kelce, but last I checked, the Cowboys still have CeeDee Lamb.”
Hurts is currently under contract until 2029 after signing a five-year, $255 million deal ahead of the 2023 season. Prescott, however, is entering the final year of his most recent deal.
The Cowboys will look to get him tied down for a long time, but Prescott will likely want to be the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.
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