Aaron Rodgers Mason Rudolph Tanner McKee
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ESPN's Bill Barnwell proposed the Pittsburgh Steelers acquire quarterback Tanner McKee from the Philadelphia Eagles.
While several signs point to the Pittsburgh Steelers bringing back Aaron Rodgers for the 2026 NFL season, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell continued to push a Tanner McKee trade narrative to begin this week.
On Monday, Barnwell proposed the Steelers acquire McKee for a 2026 third-round selection and a 2027 third-rounder. The 2027 choice would be conditional based on how many starts the quarterback makes.
“The Steelers aren’t rebuilding, but they can’t stay stuck in this QB cycle forever. Six different quarterbacks have started games for the Steelers over the past four years, and only one of them, veteran backup Mason Rudolph, is on the 2026 roster,” Barnwell wrote. “Yes, 2024 sixth-round pick Will Howard is also in the building, but the track record of sixth-round picks who aren’t Tom Brady turning into successful NFL quarterbacks is slim. Howard missed all of his first preseason because of a hand injury, which didn’t help matters.”
McKee has made two starts in his NFL career over three seasons. Overall, he’s appeared in six contests, all since the start of 2024.
Over his six appearances, he’s posted a 61.4% completion percentage with a 6.8 yards per pass average. McKee has also thrown five touchdowns versus one interception.
Could the Steelers Pursue Eagles QB Tanner McKee?
It seems a bit odd Barnwell would dismiss Will Howard while propping up McKee. Both are former sixth-round picks, and while McKee has more experience, it’s not much more.
In addition to Howard, the Steelers also already have Mason Rudolph under contract. If the team re-signed Rodgers and traded for McKee, they would have a four-quarterback situation as the Cleveland Browns did last season.
That means, in all likelihood, the Steelers will only add one more signal-caller this offseason.
Still, Barnwell explored the hypothetical of the team adding both Rodgers and McKee.
“McKee was excellent in the 2025 preseason, going 20-of-25 for 252 yards and two scores. 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,” wrote Barnwell.
“The 6-foot-6 McKee might impress if given more of an opportunity to start, although he’s entering the final year of his rookie deal. The Steelers might consider bringing back Rodgers, trading for McKee and then signing the inexperienced 25-year-old to a short-term extension.”
Such a scenario likely means the Steelers would have to part ways with Rudolph. But that would be far from ideal.
With Rodgers, McKee and Howard, the Steelers would be entering 2026 with a 42-year-old starter and two backups with two combined NFL starts.
Steelers’ Nick Herbig Trade Rumors
Barnwell proposing the Steelers as a landing spot for McKee started when he suggested the team could deal edge rusher Nick Herbig for the quarterback last week.
“If you need a Tanner McKee and you knew someone who obsesses over edge rushing talent, would you not call the Eagles and say, ‘Nick Herbig, Tanner McKee, two guys on rookie deals,” said Barnwell.
“You get a cost control player for another year who had phenomenal pass rushing numbers, and we get our quarterback of the future.
“Does that not seem like a scratch my back, I scratch yours situation?”
Steelers pundits significant criticized that trade proposal. With that in mind, it seems like Monday that Barnwell tried to justify his original proposal with a tweaked trade scenario — McKee for draft picks.
McKee is an intriguing trade option for the Steelers. But not a super realistic one given the team’s current quarterback room.
“It doesn’t appear that likely that the Steelers will take a swing on an outside quarterback with a very limited sample size and block Howard at this point,” wrote Steelers Depot’s Josh Carney.