Dual-threat quarterbacks have been the talk of the town in the NFL these days, and in 2022, the debate about the best has involved Jalen Hurts vs Lamar Jackson.
Both are among the best young NFL players in the league right now. But which one deserves to be considered the best all-around quarterback in the NFL rather than just a good runner who can occasionally pass the ball effectively?
Debating Jalen Hurts vs Lamar Jackson
Obviously, the Jackson vs Hurts quarterback comparison isn’t easy to make. Most teams would happily trade their current quarterback for either one of them.
But if you could only pick one, who would it be? We think that the Jackson vs Hurts debate is worth exploring, so let’s take a deep dive into whether Hurts or Jackson is the better all-around quarterback.
Runner
In terms of being the better runner, Jackson is the clear winner. He already has two 1,000-yard rushing seasons under his belt and is poised to make it three times in four years in 2022.
It’s not as if Jackson is running behind the greatest offensive linemen of all time. He’s doing it with his pure athleticism. In fact, through nine games, Jackson is averaging 7.4 yards per carry, which would be a career-high if it holds until the end of the season. He’s an explosive runner regardless of whether it’s a planned run or an improvisation.
Hurts, on the other hand, has been far less explosive as a runner in 2022, gaining just 3.8 yards per carry after averaging 5.6 yards per carry in his first two seasons. But that might actually be a good thing.
Hurts is looking to run less and take fewer hits. He’s still a threat in short-yardage situations and near the goal line, scoring seven rushing touchdowns in nine games this season after finding the end zone with his legs 10 times last year. But Hurts has turned his legs into a weapon that gives him more time to find receivers down the field rather than taking off and picking up huge chunks of yards.
Passer
As a passer, Jackson has always had his ups and downs. He’s also taken a step back in 2022. His completion percentage has dipped slightly this season to his lowest mark since his rookie year.
He’s also averaging just 6.9 yards per pass, which is on pace to be the worst of his career. On the other hand, Jackson is on pace to throw at least 30 touchdown passes this season, which would be the most since his MVP season in 2019. It’s not as if the Ravens are surrounding him with top-flight wide receivers. That’s a factor that needs to be considered when assessing Jackson’s passing abilities.
That being said, Jackson’s passing numbers in 2022 pale in comparison to what Hurts has done. He’s taken a huge step forward this year, improving his completion percentage from 61.3% last year to 67.9% this year and his yards per pass from 7.3 last year to 8.3 this year.
Of course, the offseason addition of A.J. Brown to complement DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert has helped immensely. But Hurts still deserves a majority of the praise. Adding a top-flight wide receiver doesn’t always guarantee success. The quarterback needs to build a rapport with his receivers and put the ball in the right place, and Hurts has done exactly that while also reducing his propensity for throwing interceptions, which is another sign of growth and improvement from Hurts in 2022.
Intangibles
Of course, everybody knows that the quarterback position is about more than pure numbers. There are countless intangibles that factor into the ability to make plays and win games. Jackson has proven himself to be a leader for the Ravens, even if he’s quiet and prefers to lead by example.
Baltimore’s winning record since Jackson took over as the starter is also evidence of those leadership qualities. His poise has also paid dividends for the Ravens, especially late in games. With Jackson missing the last five games of the 2021 season, the Ravens went winless, including four losses that came by three points or less, something that likely wouldn’t have happened if Jackson had been playing.
As for Hurts, it’s fair to say that the jury is still out on his intangibles with less than three years in the league under his belt. However, the early returns have been undeniably promising. In his brief time as Philadelphia’s starter, Hurts has been praised by his teammates and coaches for his work ethic and dedication.
It’s not hard to see that his work ethic during the offseason is paying off on the field in 2022, as Hurts has looked noticeably stronger physically and more astute with the mental aspect of the game. Those have surely been factors in Hurts taking his game to the next level this season, allowing him to be compared to a former MVP like Jackson in the first place.
Verdict
In the Jalen Hurts vs Lamar Jackson debate, who wins as the better overall quarterback?
Right now, the answer has to be Hurts.
There’s no denying that Jackson is the far better runner and perhaps a scarier quarterback for opposing defenses to face. However, in terms of being a more balanced and well-rounded quarterback, Hurts is the pick.
He’s come into his own as a passer while also using his legs more effectively to pick up yards when he needs them but also giving him more time to throw the ball. Jackson is still too much of a running quarterback whereas Hurts can be accurately described as a dual-threat quarterback. That’s the difference in making Hurts a better overall quarterback than Jackson, at least for now.
