Carolina Panthers Draft: Is Jalen Hurts worth the gamble?
By Dean Jones
Jalen Hurts’ NFL Combine performance
There was plenty of buzz surrounding Jalen Hurts at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. The quarterback lived up to expectations and he saw his stock rise as a result.
Hurts is on the short side for an NFL quarterback at 6-foot-1. But this is something scouts do not tend to worry too much about in the current climate of the sport thanks in no small part to the incredible success of Drew Brees and Russell Wilson.
Hurts clocked in at 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash and displayed his athleticism by securing 125 inches in the broad jump. All eyes were on Hurts during the throwing drills, where he continued to show improvement in his mechanics to put on a polished display.
The prospect’s fluidity throwing the ball also showed tremendous improvement. This provided scouts in attendance with more evidence of how hard Hurts is working to improve areas of his game that were flagged as a concern.
Hurts reportedly stood out considerably during the interview process with interested teams and the media. This only enamored people further with a likable character who could be a diamond in the rough if he develops even further.
There is nothing to suggest Hurts is ready to start in the NFL right away. But having him in specific packages similar to the way Taysom Hill has been used with the New Orleans Saints could be a huge asset for an offense to have next season.