Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is in good shape and has the trust of the front office to remain the starter. But the QB2 position has become a hot competition this offseason.
The Eagles already had Tanner McKee as their backup QB but also acquired Andy Dalton, trading a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Carolina Panthers. While Dalton is a veteran QB, he is now being called a loser for his display in the spring.
Andy Dalton’s Inefficiency In Question
Despite having a backup, the Eagles wanted a QB3 on the roster. General manager Howie Roseman has always emphasized quarterback depth, which is why he acquired the highly experienced Dalton. The Eagles also drafted rookie Cole Payton in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jan 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Andy Dalton (14) during pregame warm ups before the NFC Wild Card Round game between the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Dalton has played 179 games with 169 starts and a career 84-83-2 record. The plan was to have him as a backup for Hurts, or to step in as the main QB in an emergency. But his spring performance raised questions about whether he’ll stick on the roster.
Analyst Brandon Lee Gowton put together a list of six “losers” from the Eagles’ spring practices and placed Dalton at No. 1. “He had a good showing on one of those days, too. But even on his best day, Dalton’s lacking arm strength was apparent as he barely completed some out routes that were tightly contested by defenders,” Gowton wrote.
Gowton also highlighted the broader consistency issues: “And aside from that one day, Dalton struggled. Inaccurate passes were an issue and he threw multiple interceptions.” He thinks if the Eagles assign the QB2 role based on merit, Dalton would lose to McKee. “If the Eagles determine QB2 based on merit, as opposed to experience, Dalton is on track to lose to Tanner McKee,” he added.
If Dalton doesn’t get the QB2 role, Gowton questions whether he will make the final roster at all, especially with young Cole Payton also in the mix.
Experience vs. Fresh Energy: What Will The Eagles Prefer?
Roseman likes to have a strong QB room. While he already had McKee, he went for the veteran Dalton and also drafted Payton. Cole Payton was selected by the Eagles in the fifth round, No. 178 overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is a dual-threat quarterback out of North Dakota State.
Gowton laid out the roster math bluntly. “Dalton is on track to lose to Tanner McKee. And if Dalton isn’t the Eagles’ backup, does he even make the roster? Are they going to risk cutting Cole Payton? Or using an extra roster spot to keep four quarterbacks?” he said.
Making Dalton QB3 would likely mean cutting Payton from the roster. The Eagles may have planned to have Dalton as the backup, but if he fails to show his worth for that position, things might get stirred up. Keeping four QBs on the roster seems like too much of a luxury.
It’s still early to judge Dalton based on offseason activities alone. But the lack of sharpness isn’t helping his case, and only time will tell how his tenure with the Eagles plays out.
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