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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 7: Jalen Hurts #1, Tanner McKee #16, and Kyle McCord #19 of the Philadelphia Eagles look on prior to the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lincoln Financial Field on August 7, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Eagles may not be making changes at the top of their quarterback depth chart, but trade buzz is beginning to swirl around one of their signal callers.
While Jalen Hurts remains firmly entrenched as the franchise starter, multiple reports this week have suggested that backup quarterback Tanner McKee could be on the move.
ESPN’s Ben Solak labeled McKee as a player “in danger” of being traded this offseason.
He noted that the Eagles’ backup quarterback under general manager Howie Roseman is often viewed as a potential trade asset
With quarterback uncertainty around the league and several teams still searching for competition or depth, McKee is suddenly being viewed as a name to watch.
Solak pointed out that McKee has consistently flashed in the preseason and looked serviceable in limited regular season action.
In 2024, he started Week 18 and threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns while throwing primarily to backups.
Again this season, he held his own in Week 18, throwing for 274 yards and a score.
Why the Eagles Could Cash In
Solak wrote that McKee typically looks strong in the preseason and looked acceptable in two Week 18 starts.
Though he will turn 26 next season and is considered an older developmental prospect, Solak believes McKee still has upside because he has not received extended game action.
In a league where players like Will Howard and Quinn Ewers could find themselves competing for starting jobs, Solak argued that McKee “deserves a camp fight somewhere.”
Philadelphia selected McKee in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the intention of developing him behind Hurts.
Over two seasons, he has appeared in six games with two starts, completing 54 passes for 597 yards and five touchdowns.
The Eagles have shown a willingness to flip backup quarterbacks for value before.
Last offseason, they traded Kenny Pickett to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fifth round pick.
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If Roseman thinks McKee’s value is as high as it’s going to get, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Eagles try to get a mid-round pick for him.
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The Eagles value quarterback depth, but they’ve also shown they won’t hesitate to make a move if it means adding a draft pick.
League Wide QB Uncertainty Creates Opportunity for Eagles
This offseason features several teams navigating unsettled quarterback rooms.
That environment could make McKee an appealing option as either a high end backup or a developmental competitor.
Some analysts have even speculated that teams like the Vikings could consider bringing him in to compete with J.J. McCarthy.
Of course, Philadelphia would not move McKee without a clear backup plan behind Hurts.
The team could explore re-signing a veteran such as Sam Howell, target a free agent, or draft another quarterback on Day 2 or Day 3.
Still, given the Eagles’ history and the growing league wide demand for quarterback depth, McKee’s name continues to be floated in offseason trade conversations.