Eagles draft Hurts 53rd in a stunning move
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second round of the NFL draft.
After taking TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor with the 21st overall pick in the first round, the Eagles made a stunning move Friday to get Hurts at No. 53. Carson Wentz, who signed a $137 million contract extension last season, is Philadelphia’s starter and there’s no quarterback controversy.
Hurts transferred from Alabama to Oklahoma and became a Heisman Trophy finalist last year when he threw for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns. He’ll provide insurance for Wentz, who started 16 games last season and led the Eagles to the NFC East title but was knocked out of a wild-card playoff loss to Seattle.
Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in 2016, helped Philadelphia secure the NFC’s No. 1 seed in his sophomore season but tore two knee ligaments and watched Nick Foles lead the Eagles to the franchise’s first Super Bowl title. Wentz injured his back in 2018 and Foles stepped in again and led the team to a playoff win.
Hurts, 6-foot-1 and 218 pounds, led two elite programs to the College Football Playoffs and put up big numbers both passing and rushing. His passing accuracy and consistency were the biggest questions entering the draft.
Hurts went 26-2 as a starter for the Crimson Tide and was the Southeastern Conference player of the year as a freshman. Then he was benched at halftime of the national championship game against Georgia, with Tua Tagovailoa leading the comeback victory and ultimately winning the starting job for the 2018 season. CAL’S DAVIS FIRST AREA PLAYER TAKEN >> Cal defensive back Ashtyn Davis, a former walk-on, was the first Bay Area college football player taken in the draft, going in the third round, 68th overall, to the New York on Jets on Friday.
Davis, a Santa Cruz native, played safety with the Bears and is also able to play cornerback, where he might start his professional career.
Davis first attended Cal on a track and field scholarship before he walked onto the football team. In his senior season with the Bears, Davis finished with a career-high 57 tackles to rank fourth on the team
Davis attended the NFL scouting combine earlier this year and posted 14 reps on the bench press. He was unable to play in the Senior Bowl due to due to an adductor injury he suffered late in the season that required surgery.