He did nothing but help himself, in terms of his draft stock, when it came to playing his final collegiate season at Oklahoma, performing well at the NFL Scouting Combine and having a strong outing at his pro day.
At the Combine, multiple NFL Draft analysts– including Daniel Jeremiah – were very adamant about Jalen Hurts not falling out of the second round. Jeremiah, in particular, went as far as to say the native Texan potentially has a shot to be selected late in the first round.
According to Mel Kiper Jr., a draft expert for ESPN, he has the former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback projected at pick No. 49 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hurts would come off the board early in the second-round and be the first pick of the franchise. Due to how quickly the likes of Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray picked up the game, people feel like Hurts will do the same.
.@MelKiperESPN is projecting Jalen Hurts to the Steelers in the second round.
“They need an heir-apparent to Big Ben.” pic.twitter.com/jv10UiK1mh
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 14, 2020
Ben Roethlisberger is 38 years old and with Jackson, Baker Mayfield and the possibility of Joe Burrow in the AFC North as well, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers are looking toward the future.
Should it make the move, it would playmakers such as JuJu Smith-Schuster and Eric Ebron to grow with Hurts. Would the three-time conference champion excel in Pittsburgh?
RELATED: Quinnen Williams gives back to medical professionals who are dealing with COVID-19
We shall see depending on where he falls in the draft.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
