Tanner McKee
Getty
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee.
One of the reasons the Philadelphia Eagles were able to keep their train rolling last season after starting quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion in Week 16 was because of a deep bench of backup quarterbacks.
Over the last 2 games of the season — with no Hurts — both Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee started and won games. Hurts got critical time to heal, returned for the playoffs and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl win and Super Bowl MVP honors.
McKee took the opportunity to make a big impression — big enough the Eagles traded Pickett to the Cleveland Browns and McKee became one of the buzzier names in trade rumors through the offseason.
He’s also now thought of as one of the NFL’s top backup quarterbacks, although he won’t be available for his team in the regular season opener at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, September 4, because of a thumb injury.
“The Eagles will have everyone available for Thursday Night Football aside from backup quarterback Tanner McKee,” Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams wrote on September 3. “McKee will miss the season opener against the Cowboys with a right thumb injury, leaving recently acquired Sam Howell as Jalen Hurts’ backup. McKee did not practice again Wednesday.”
The Eagles traded with the Minnesota Vikings for Howell on August 24.
“Sam Howell will be the backup QB tomorrow night withTanner McKee out for the game,” NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark wrote on his official X account. “All of the starters are good to go!”
McKee Creates ‘Elevated Trade Value’
It speaks to the work McKee has done in the last 2 years that he might be more valuable to the Eagles in 2025 as the backup to reigning Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts that a trade probably won’t be on the table until next spring.
McKee has gone from a sixth round pick out of Stanford in the 2023 NFL draft to someone who could have elevated value in a possible trade.
From Bleeding Green Nation on June 2: “Now, if McKee plays well in the preseason, (general manager) Howie Roseman is going to get trade offers for McKee. He probably already has. And if someone offers a 1st-round pick you take it. You just do. But I wouldn’t expect that to happen. A 3rd-round pick, no way. Not enough. The question is would you take a 2nd-rounder for McKee, and I would really be reluctant … There’s no doubt in my mind McKee can be a plus NFL starter, and he’ll probably get that opportunity if he hits free agency after the 2026 season. But right now, the Eagles need him more than they need more picks.”
Eagles Didn’t Like What They Saw In McCord
The Eagles drafted another quarterback in 2025 when they took Syracuse’s Kyle McCord in the sixth round, but cut McCord after training camp then stashed him on the practice squad.
With Howell, they at least have a quarterback with starting experience. Howell started all 17 games in 2023 for the Washington Commanders, where he went 3-14 and led the NFL in interceptions and sacks.