PHILADELPHIA - Jalen Hurts exceeded expectations last season to establish himself as not only the Eagles' franchise quarterback but as one of the premier players in the National Football League.
On Monday, the Eagles rewarded Hurts by inking him to a historic 5-year, $255 million contract that makes Hurts the highest-paid player in the NFL.
With an annual value of $51 million per season, Hurts becomes the highest-paid NFL player in history. The deal was negotiated by Nicole Lynn, who famously spearheads an all-women-led agency.
"So happy for my little bro [Jalen Hurts] on becoming the highest paid player in NFL history!" Lynn wrote Monday on Instagram. "Thank you for trusting me with something of this magnitude. I remember sitting in your old high school interviewing to be your agent. I am a dreamer, but I’m not sure I could have ever imagined THIS is where we land."
Lynn is not the only one surprised to see Hurts where he is now. The dual-threat quarterback has made a habit of proving people wrong so far in his young career.
Once considered a project at quarterback, Hurts has evolved into one of the league's best at his position.
Fresh off a sophomore season in which he captured the NFC crown and led the Eagles to a narrow Super Bowl loss, Hurts was already entrenched as the Eagles' franchise quarterback but will now be paid as such, too.
Shortly after the news broke, Hurts received praise on social media from his teammates, stars from around the NFL, and even the legendary singer Anita Baker.
For Philly, especially Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, it has to be a huge relief to lock in a legit superstar at the position.
After swinging and missing on the likes of Sam Bradford and Carson Wentz in the past, the Eagles finally have a franchise leader at quarterback to rally around.
Last season, Hurts had 4,461 total yards and 35 total touchdowns en route to a second-place MVP finish. His improved accuracy and efficiency from the pocket was one of the most notable storylines of the season and helped fuel a deep postseason run for the Eagles.
With the newly-extended Hurts at the helm, the Eagles are primed to do damage once again, and may even capture the Lombardi trophy this time around.
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