It's very early in offseason team programs, but it is very odd that Tanner McKee seems to have lost the faith of the Eagles. I think most people did a little, "Oh ok, hmm," when the Eagles signed Andy Dalton in the offseason, but I also believe, most like myself, believed that Dalton was brought aboard to be that third emergency quarterback and a mentor-type. Now, he's outsnapping McKee as QB2 in spring practices.
Before week 18 of last season, McKee was being touted as a highly cromulent backup, perhaps one who deserved a shot at trying out to be a starter on a team in need of one. Many thought the Eagles might look to trade him for draft capital, which seemed like a positive statement about the "QB Factory." Now, though, the team has seemingly imported a vet to takeover backup duties over the drafted and developed McKee, which would certainly be a demerit for the quarterback assembly line.
As I mentioned, it's really too early to draw conclusions on depth charts and the roster, but if the Eagles really have lost faith in McKee that would be odd to me, and it would seem to kill any trade value he did have. McKee did not look good in week 18 last year. However, it hardly seems prudent or just to write him off after one stinker of a game with the 2nd and 3rd team offense on the field against a division rival with nothing to play for but spoiler (a favorite of NFC East bottom dwellers for decades). Plus, every QB in the league has played games that they wish they could have back. Also, think about this: McKee's final stat line for wk 18 against the Commanders - 21/40 241yds 1TD 1INT (not great) - but how many games has Jalen Hurts started and finished with a worst stat line in a more meaningful game than a week 18 loss where the Eagles' playoff seeding was already decided and the team was resting starters?
I'm not trying to stir controversy or throw shade on anyone. I don't think that McKee deserves to start over Hurts, and in the grand scheme of things, I don't really care who is the Eagles' backup QB. I just find the Eagles' early handling of the backup QB position in 2026 difficult to understand.