Sound Sensible: 4 Offseason Observations Forward Of NFL Coaching Camp

I can already smell the freshly cut grass. I can hear the players’ barks, grunts and screams of excitement. I can feel the August sun.

Training camp is almost here. Which means football season is almost here.

And, man, what an offseason it has been. So before we look ahead to the 2026 season, let’s make sure we take stock of the offseason, which will inform what comes next. I’ve been on paternity leave, and I can’t wait to hit on a few controversies and blockbuster trades. There’s nothing better.

This is “Sound Smart,” where I try to spin forward, dive deeper and think outside the box. If I do my job, you’ll have a better understanding of what really happened during the NFL offseason.

When it comes to Jalen Hurts, there might not be a quarterback who says less but who is discussed more. Hurts is actually the personification of a handful of clichés about football players.

For example: He lets his play do the talking.

Here’s another one: All he wants to do is win.

That’s the personified cliché that interested me most as the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 season wound down. Ironically, in a league that values winning above all else, Hurts’ obsession with winning is what makes him polarizing. His at-times unorthodox playing style makes for a nontraditional path to victory. It’s also possible that distinctive playing style is what led star receiver A.J. Brown to leave Philly.

But Hurts does win — quite often. He has won 69.5% of his games as a starter, ninth-best all time (among QBs with at least 70 starts). It’s just a hair below Peyton Manning (70.2%) and it’s better than Aaron Rodgers’ mark (63.6%). 

You’d think that’s the type of statistic that implies greatness. But you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who’d call Hurts “elite.”

There’s the crowd that doesn’t think wins are a quarterback stat. To some degree, I’m with them. Football is a team game. When a team loses, the blame unfairly falls on the quarterback. And when a team wins, the praise overwhelmingly lands on the QB. Roughly five years ago, it felt like wins were an overly common metric to measure a QB’s success. And yes, again, that was unfair.

But there are exceptions to the rule. Hurts might just be one of them.

“I think it’s convenient,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told me in April when I asked about how to assess Hurts’ winning percentage. “It’s convenient to say that wins matter for this particular player. And then sometimes we forget about that [and say wins don’t matter]. I feel wins for a quarterback is large. And I feel what you have seen with Jalen is he is gained each totally different method we have requested him to, and I feel that is what I like about him.”

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs famous person quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the proper instance of a participant whose wins are a transparent reflection of his success. Through the Chiefs’ unimaginable Tremendous Bowl run, 5 title video games in six seasons, Mahomes was extensively thought of the very best QB within the NFL, even when his statistics had been common at finest. As a result of he was profitable. The longer he did it, the extra these wins turned part of his legacy.

And but the identical is not true of Hurts.

In my dialog with Sirianni, I purchased up Tom Brady, who spent most of his early profession with the New England Patriots coping with criticism that he was a sport supervisor and a system quarterback — even after profitable three Tremendous Bowls. At many various factors in his profession, Brady sacrificed his particular person statistics for crew success. When the Patriots misplaced, it made the criticism of Brady even louder. 

That should sound acquainted to the Eagles.

“That is what I am saying,” Sirianni advised me. “What’s weird is like, we take a look at these stats and put a participant’s value on it. Like, ‘Oh, he threw for lots of touchdowns.’ Nicely, you understand what? After we get down within the crimson zone to win the sport, we run it, and after we get actual shut, the quarterback sneaks it in. So perhaps he does not have as many landing passes. And that impacts your passing effectivity [and passer rating].

“What does that matter once you’re scoring the landing? That’s the last word objective there, and I am actually grateful to have a quarterback that is like that.”

Now, in fact, Brady has seven Tremendous Bowl wins and Mahomes has three. Hurts has one. And perhaps these numbers — alone — clarify why he will get totally different remedy, regardless of having an analogous mentality to Brady and Mahomes.

Hurts has handled loads of criticism following the crew’s defeat to the San Francisco 49ers within the wild-card spherical of final season’s playoffs. Infamously, we now know Hurts asked his coaches to let him run four-verts on the crew’s closing offensive play from scrimmage, the place he threw an incompletion. He known as his shot, which included a play that is so simple as performs come, and it didn’t work. He took the blame publicly.

“They performed a cover-four construction,” Hurts advised reporters, saying that was the anticipated protection. “I simply didn’t make the play. I personal it. I personal all of it.”

However the Eagles’ struggles led to the commerce of their star receiver, Brown. 

The Eagles additionally fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.

Philly’s points have additionally triggered hypothesis that perhaps the Eagles might transfer on from Hurts — not this offseason however maybe in 2027, notably following an ESPN report in April that the QB will not be all the time receptive to teaching. 

I, for one, thought the anecdotes within the story confirmed Hurts’ strong-willed management type, the sort that generates respect for Rodgers. On this case of comparability, Rodgers has one Tremendous Bowl victory, identical to Hurts. The important thing distinction is that Rodgers’ bodily instruments in his prime (notably as a thrower) had been simple. Hurts’ arm cannot evaluate to Rodgers.

One 12 months after Hurts’ Tremendous Bowl win and Tremendous Bowl MVP, he’s among the many league’s most polarizing quarterbacks.

Pull up the lowlights and also you’ll see a QB who struggles to optimize an offense with a few of the league’s finest talent gamers. Pull up the highlights and also you’ll see a man who simply finds a method whereas mixing his uncommon mobility and throwing talents.

“He’ll do no matter he must do,” Sirianni advised me. “Each quarterback needs to throw it, however there’s instances the place he is aware of that the very best factor for us to win the sport is handy it off or to run it. And that is what you admire about him, as a result of all he actually cares about on the finish of the day is getting the win. And I really like that about him.”

Sirianni added: “When your finest gamers play that method and reside that method, that units the desk for your entire soccer crew.”

After I requested Sirianni for examples of Hurts’ will to win, he picked neither the best highs nor the bottom lows. He picked a pair of video games I didn’t anticipate.

First, he introduced up Philadelphia’s 38-7 win over the New York Giants within the divisional spherical of the 2022 playoffs, when Hurts was 16-of-24 for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He additionally rushed for 34 yards and one other landing. Even should you take a look at the superior statistics, you gained’t come away marveling at what Hurts did. The Giants blitzed on 53.8% of his dropbacks, and he managed the sport and averted errors.

However this was a sport Sirianni introduced as much as exemplify Hurts’ profitable mindset. He quietly performed his position in an enormous blowout that set off a run to the Tremendous Bowl (the place the Eagles misplaced to the Chiefs).

Then, Sirianni introduced up one other playoff sport — this time from 2024 throughout Philadelphia’s Tremendous Bowl-winning run. Hurts was 13-of-21 for 131 yards and two touchdowns with 36 dashing yards. Once more, ho-hum. However the Eagles beat the Inexperienced Bay Packers 22-10 within the wild-card spherical.

“We did not throw for a bunch of yards. We did not play nice on offense,” Sirianni advised me. “All Jalen needed to do is win that sport and transfer on. And we ended up doing essentially the most final factor [by winning the Super Bowl]. And so he is a stud. I can not say sufficient good issues about it.”

The Eagles should not essentially rebuilding this 12 months, however with out Brown, they won’t be the identical juggernaut. Hurts must do extra, and together with his sixth offensive coordinator in his seventh NFL season. Hurts must contribute in larger — and maybe unorthodox — methods.

And you may guess that the success of his season will probably be measured a technique — above all others.

It’ll be the Eagles’ win whole. Hurts’ win whole.

That is all that issues to him. And also you’re kidding your self should you do not admit it is what actually issues.

I have not but seen the “Dream Workforce” expression bopping round. And although it is one thing of a curse, it is also pretty correct when taking a look at what the Rams have assembled. These are The Avengers.

Iron Man: Matthew Stafford
Black Panther: Myles Garrett
Captain America: Kyren Williams
Falcon: Blake Corum
Physician Unusual: Sean McVay
Spider-Man: Puka Nacua
Imaginative and prescient: Davante Adams
Thor: Alaric Jackson
Loki: Trent McDuffie
Conflict Machine: Kevin Dotson

Now, I do know you are questioning … who’s The Hulk? Or perhaps you already know: Aaron Donald.

This crew was a play away from making the Super Bowl final 12 months. And so L.A. responded by including two of the league’s most excellent gamers: record-setting edge rusher Garrett and All-Professional cornerback McDuffie. They may simply add their third in Donald, probably the greatest defensive linemen ever. He was noticed understanding on the Rams’ facility after the crew added Garrett. Donald reportedly needed to do a trial run on his physique after two seasons in retirement.

If (and perhaps when) Donald returns, the Rams might rapidly kind essentially the most unblockable line of defense for the reason that flip of the millennium. As a result of nostril sort out Poona Ford may not be a family title, however he was the crew’s top-rated defensive participant in 2026, per PFF. He is extremely dependable regardless of his humble stats: 47 tackles and two sacks.

It has lengthy been a curse to throw round “Dream Workforce.” And I would not dare.

However … additionally … how might you not?!

It has caught with me that, within the A.J. Brown commerce, the Eagles acquired a 2028 first-round decide. 

Once they make that choice, the nation will probably be speaking concerning the subsequent presidential election. We’ll be about prepared to observe the L.A. Olympics. And NASA could have despatched somebody again to the moon for the primary time for the reason that Nineteen Seventies.

In different phrases, that feels a good distance away.

When the groups started severely speaking concerning the deal on the NFL Mix in February, the decide was three drafts away. So not solely did the Eagles determine they had been OK with bypassing the 2026 decide (largely due to the monetary incentives for ready till June 1 to separate up Brown’s wage cap hit), however Philly additionally accepted that it wouldn’t get a 2027 first-rounder both. 

Nominally, the compensation seemed like a win for the Eagles: a first-rounder. But it surely’s not so clear-cut, given how lengthy they’ll have to attend to receives a commission (so to talk). Sure, they’ll additionally received a 2027 fifth-rounder, but when Eagles GM Howie Roseman converts that decide right into a starter, then it’ll be his finest fifth-round choice … ever. It’s not an space of the draft the place Roseman has thrived.

The purpose is, this deal seemed typical on paper: an (growing old) star receiver for a first-rounder. However I feel it’s far more uncommon than you’d assume. The truth is, I can’t consider a deal over the previous few years that (successfully) deferred fee fairly like this one. 

“We’ve all the time been within the mindset a decide is a decide — a first-round decide is a first-round decide. Doesn’t matter. Groups are nonetheless going to be taking part in soccer in 2028,” Roseman mentioned final month after the commerce. “I do know there’s a number of consideration on the 2027 draft, however on the similar time, wanting on the ‘28 draft, I really feel assured that that’s going to be an excellent draft as nicely, and that we’ll be in place to actually enhance our soccer crew.”

That helps clarify, at the very least partially, why the Patriots had been glad to defer fee — and quit that 2028 decide.

This 12 months, they’re all-in on the core they’ve constructed round Mike Vrabel. In free company, New England snagged receiver Romeo Doubs, guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, defensive sort out Dre’Mont Jones and security Kevin Byard to function starters. The Patriots have really upgraded their Tremendous Bowl roster, which suffered just a few key departures, like receiver Stefon Diggs, DT Khyris Tonga, edge Okay’Lavon Chaisson — most of whom the crew promptly changed.

Subsequent 12 months’s draft class is about as hyped as draft lessons get, loaded with elite quarterback and receiver prospects. (Sure, the Patriots have already got their quarterback. But when 5 quarterbacks go earlier than the Patriots make their decide, which means the prospect that slides to them is that significantly better.) New England was good to carry onto that choice.

The Patriots wish to stack their roster as they construct round Drake Maye. However in addition they wish to construct a younger core, which was sorely missing following the departures of coaches Invoice Belichick and Jerod Mayo.

“We’ve to win. That is our job, is to win,” Vrabel mentioned following the commerce when requested concerning the first-round decide — and whether or not his crew is in win-now mode.

This deal is a serious funding within the Patriots now. It’s additionally extra of a coup for New England than folks understand.

It’s attainable that Brown isn’t on the Eagles in 2028 when the crew makes the Patriots’ first-round choice. However that gained’t essentially imply that the Patriots didn’t win the commerce.

What occurred right here?

The NFL gamers ranked their friends this offseason, and Jackson fell from No. 2 to 69th within the “NFL 100” rankings. Up to now, Jackson hasn’t responded, not on X nor in a press convention setting. But it surely’s fairly protected to imagine that he noticed it, partially as a result of he does not reside beneath a rock and partially as a result of he reposted the information that Zay Flowers landed at 71st in the identical rating. It is simply that Jackson could not have probably anticipated to land simply two spots away.

It is one factor for a participant to get criticism from the media. It is one other to see this stage of disrespect from his fellow gamers.

It is attainable that Jackson’s athleticism is fading. It is attainable that his physique is breaking down. Little doubt, he struggled to play by means of accidents final 12 months. However I do not see what the gamers are seeing. I do not see him touchdown at this spot in 2026. 

Lamar goes to be a high 10 QB — and maybe even a high 10 participant total.