Why Eagles could make franchise-changing Jalen Hurts decision after 2026 season

It's been yet another offseason of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts being the subject of some rather unflattering stories after the Philadelphia offense endured struggles throughout the 2025 campaign. 

During a recent edition of the "Get Up" program, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano explained why the Eagles could afford to move on from Hurts as soon as next offseason per the terms of the five-year contract extension reportedly worth up to $255M with $179.3M guaranteed the signal-caller signed back in 2023. 

Eagles could easily move on from Jalen Hurts' contract next year

"I think on some level it is," Graziano said when asked if Hurts could be entering a make-or-break season this coming September, per Terrance Biggs of Pro Football Network. "I always look at the contract, and you look at his 2027 money. It’s $22M, but that’s all that’s guaranteed. After that, no guarantees."

Hurts' long-term future with the Eagles first came into question after the signing of his extension when multiple reports surfaced in the summer of 2024 claiming that the relationship between the one-time Super Bowl MVP and head coach Nick Sirianni had become at least somewhat "fractured." 

More recently, it was said following the 2025 season that Hurts "has been the source of much internal frustration" within the Eagles, in part because "whatever personality traits had rubbed people the wrong way before had grown since" Philadelphia's Super Bowl victory in February 2025.

Do Eagles already have a potential Jalen Hurts replacement in mind?

"We already had the story come out earlier this offseason that seemed to indicate there was some dissatisfaction in the building with Jalen Hurts," Graziano added. "I think if he has a bad year and the offense doesn’t work, then they might be looking at other options this time next year."

Specifically, it was recently suggested that some within the Eagles may view 2026 fifth-round draft pick Cole Payton as an eventual Hurts replacement. For now, such conversations can be punted down the road until Hurts has an opportunity to show whether or not he can thrive while playing under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.