Tanner McKee Nick Herbig
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ESPN's Bill Barnwell proposed the Philadelphia Eagles trade quarterback Tanner McKee to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Philadelphia Eagles landed a solid backup quarterback in Tanner McKee with a Day 3 selection a few years ago. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggested the Eagles could use that acquisition to land more draft capital or even Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher Nick Herbig.
On Monday, Barnwell proposed the Eagles send McKee to Pittsburgh for two third-round picks. The second choice was a conditional 2027 third-rounder.
Barnwell also pondered whether the Eagles could get Herbig included in the trade if they sent draft capital to Pittsburgh in the deal as well.
“McKee was excellent in the 2025 preseason, going 20-of-25 for 252 yards and two scores,” Barnwell wrote. “In mop-up duty and two Week 18 starts playing with Philly’s backups over the past two years, he has posted a 45.3 Total QBR, putting McKee just ahead of Rodgers’ 44.5 …
“The Texans once swapped first- and second-round picks with the Falcons — with Atlanta moving up in each round — to draft and extend Matt Schaub, who had completed 52% of his passes and started twice over three seasons. Roseman would probably ask for edge rusher Nick Herbig, who led the league in pass rush win rate on the outside in a breakout season. Herbig is also a free agent after the year and stuck behind two talented and highly paid veterans in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, but Roseman would likely need to send a Day 2 pick with McKee to land the 24-year-old.”
Herbig and McKee will both be unrestricted free agents after the 2026 campaign.
Could Eagles Deal QB Tanner McKee?
Inexpensive, good backup quarterbacks are an underrated asset in the NFL. That’s why there should be serious doubts about the Eagles wanting to part with McKee.
But if a team wants to overpay for the quarterback on the trade market, the Eagles would be wise to listen. Barnwell has suggested twice in the past week that the Steelers could do that.
According to the ESPN analyst, though, it might not be an overpayment. Barnwell sees McKee as a valuable trade chip because of positional value.
If the Eagles could receive more in a McKee trade than they would if the team loses the quarterback in free agency, then it could be worth Philadelphia dealing the signal-caller this offseason.
“Locking in the third-round pick here would make sense. And with this proposal, Philly could also land a conditional third-round pick in 2027 if McKee makes at least eight starts and/or starts a playoff game for the Steelers during the 2026 season,” wrote Barnwell.
Why Eagles Should Pursue Edge Rusher Nick Herbig
Getting Day 2 picks for McKee would be a terrific Eagles trade. But Philadelphia could really score if it acquired Herbig.
Herbig is a potential star in the making. In Pittsburgh, though, he plays behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. That limits his potential.
Even still, during 2025, Herbig had a career-high 7.5 sacks. He also had career bests of 13 tackles for loss, 18 quarterback hits and three pass defenses.
The Eagles could bolster their pass rush with Herbig. He appears ready for a 10-sack season if he receives enough playing time.
During the second week of February, Barnwell proposed the Eagles trade McKee for Herbig. That proposal received a lot of backlash from Steelers pundits.
Given that, just like the Eagles, the Steelers place a lot of emphasis on edge rusher, and Pittsburgh appears to want Aaron Rodgers back, a McKee-Herbig even swap doesn’t make a lot of sense.
But it’s the framework for a deal the Eagles should pursue if the Steelers become desperate for a quarterback.
In six NFL games, McKee has thrown five touchdowns and one interception. He’s averaged 6.8 yards per pass with a 61.4% completion percentage.
McKee is 1-1 as an NFL starter.