Hours before the Philadelphia Eagles matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, the depth chart has shifted, with Tanner McKee named backup quarterback over Andy Dalton, who previously held the role.
McKee served as the Eagles’ primary backup for the first time last season after being selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
McKee also made his first career start in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders, when the Eagles rested their starters ahead of the playoffs. In the loss, the Stanford product completed just over 50% of his passes for 241 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
The common sentiment was that McKee was a top-end backup, ranked by ESPN as the fifth-best backup quarterback in the NFL entering 2025, while CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco placed him fourth. However, the Eagles still wanted to test out other options, bringing in 15-year veteran Andy Dalton.
Dalton has plenty of experience, having started for the Cincinnati Bengals for nine seasons and led the team to five consecutive playoff appearances from 2011-15. In recent years, however, Dalton has settled into a backup role, serving as a veteran mentor.
Dalton and McKee entered training camp as the 2A and 2B quarterbacks, competing to become Hurts’ backup while splitting second-team reps throughout training camp and the preseason. Both quarterbacks looked unpolished during the preseason, but the consensus among Eagles analysts was that McKee outperformed Dalton. Despite that, the Eagles coaching staff named Dalton the backup.
It was believed that the quarterback who lost the QB2 competition could become a trade candidate, but the Eagles ultimately kept four quarterbacks on the roster, including rookie Cole Payton.
Against the Chicago Bears, Jalen Hurts took a late hit along the sideline, forcing him to leave the game and giving Dalton his first action as an Eagle. His first drive began with three straight handoffs to Saquon Barkley before the Eagles faced third down near the goal line. The coaching staff trusted Dalton to make a play with his arm, but he failed to do so.
Dalton dropped back and threw directly toward a Bears defender in the end zone for an interception, a poor read that halted the momentum the Eagles had built throughout the game. Hurts was visibly frustrated on the sideline, perhaps more so than at any point in recent memory.
Now, McKee steps into the key backup role. While he has significantly less experience than the veteran Dalton, McKee’s strong arm and 6-foot-6 frame give him the ability to fit throws into tight windows. Hopefully, Eagles fans won’t have to see much of McKee this season, but if they do, he has the tools to keep the offense afloat.
