Tanner McKee quarterback Philadelphia Eagles
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 04: Tanner McKee #16 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on January 04, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Eagles made an interesting move last week when they decided to trade for veteran three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Andy Dalton.
Since relinquishing his starting role with the Cincinnati Bengals after the 2019 season, when the franchise decided to move forward and select quarterback Joe Burrow with the 1st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Dalton has proven himself to be a very capable fill-in when called upon.
The second half of his pro career – as a backup – has seen him play for the Cowboys, Bears, Saints, Panthers and now the Eagles, and remains one of the more reliable QB2s in the league.
It was this fact that lead some to believe that former Philadelphia backup Tanner McKee might be traded later this offseason.
However, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, McKee could end up remaining with the franchise despite the addition of Dalton.
The Eagles Could Keep Tanner McKee on the Roster
“The Eagles landing Andy Dalton doesn’t mean they’re going to turn around and trade Tanner McKee this offseason.” Breer wrote on Monday, before noting that the move could still happen.
“But they’ve had interest in the past, McKee is in a contract year and Dalton’s presence at least gives them more flexibility to consider it.”
The Eagles under general manager Howie Roseman have always operated under the guise of the “You can never have too many quarterbacks” philosophy, something that was exemplified when the team took Jalen Hurts in the second round of the NFL draft.
This ideology has become a mainstay in Roseman’s attitude to roster building over the past few years. Last season the team retained both McKee and former Commanders starting QB Sam Howell – whom the Eagles also traded for prior to the start of the 2025 season. And the year before the team had both Pickett and McKee on the 53-man roster.
Will Andy Dalton Be The QB3 For the Eagles?
So history would point to Breer’s point having certain a certain validity to it. But the qualifying tenet that had the longtime Sports Illustrated reporter note that the Eagles could still “consider” moving McKee comes from the fact that Dalton is not a borderline backup who had failed to impress in camp like Howell.
Nor was he a talented but experience-less second year quarterback taken in the sixth round of the draft just over a year prior. In other words, Dalton is not a third stringer. And whilst some depth charts have him as such, it feels more than likely that the Red Rocket will be QB2 to start the season in Philadelphia.
In that case, are the Eagles content with having McKee as their third stringer? Or will they look to play some quarterback musical chairs and send the fourth year pro, who is currently heading into a contract year, to another franchise where he can be the bona fide first-choice backup.