Jalen Hurts successful Super Bowl paves way for dual-threat QBs

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Super Bowl LVII presented two of the game’s best quarterbacks, with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs defeating Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in rather anticlimactic fashion after a game-winning field goal from Harrison Butker.

The game was electrifying throughout, with both Mahomes and Hurts proving exactly why they are two of the best in the game right now.

Hurts’ meteoric rise from third-string quarterback in 2020 to Super Bowl starter and NFL MVP nominee in 2022 is leading NFL scouts and general managers to find the same recipe for their own organizations — especially with a strong one Class of double-threat caliber quarterbacks awaiting in the 2023 NFL draft.

Two of the most notable draft quarterbacks are Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Levis, and both should benefit from Hurts’ recent success — according to new Locked on NFL Draft podcast hosts Damian Parson and Keith Sanchez.

“If you’re asking me if Jalen Hurts paved the way for these double threat quarterbacks, I have to say yes,” Sanchez said. “I think this is the first performance we’ve seen where Jalen Hurts dominated this game and showed his legs.”

Subscribe to the Locked on NFL Draft podcast for all your pre-draft news and rankings. Free and available wherever you get your podcasts.

Locked On has a DAILY podcast covering EVERY NFL team, find yours today!

Hurts was a master in every aspect on Sunday, throwing for 304 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for 70 yards and three touchdowns — not only a Super Bowl record for a quarterback, but also the all-time record for rushing touchdowns rolled into one Super Bowl along with previous Broncos support Terrell Davis.

While other dual-threat quarterbacks have thrived at the highest level of the game, Hurts proved how devastating the ability to use both his arm and legs can be to opposing defenses.

Richardson and Levis are two of the top quarterbacks expected to step down from the board this year, and one team expected to show interest is the Indianapolis Colts — who are expected to have Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen as their new head coach will be set.

The Colts have fourth pick in the draft, and finding a quarterback with skills similar to Hurts should fit well with Steichen’s coaching philosophy, leading many to think they’ll be considering either Richardson or Levis at this point.

“If you’re talking about a viable, tooling quarterback, I think it gives the Colts a little more comfort that Steichen has already done that,” Sanchez said. “We can take one of the development workers at four and we think our coach can do it.”

For more NFL Draft content leading up to the April 27 first pick, watch the Locked on NFL Draft Podcast.

Subscribe to the Locked on NFL Draft podcast for all your pre-draft news and rankings. Free and available wherever you get your podcasts.