There is little doubt that Jalen Hurts is entrenched as the top quarterback on the Philadelphia Eagles depth chart heading into the 2026 campaign. But who would take over that role if Hurts goes down with an injury?
The Eagles have elected to enter the season with four quarterbacks on the active 53-man roster. They are Hurts, Tanner McKee, Andy Dalton, and rookie fifth-round selection Cole Payton. This is a very interesting development provided that most teams do not carry more than three quarterbacks on their active roster.
Payton is a developmental player who is likely going to start the year at QB No. 3. That leaves either McKee or Dalton as the odd man out. McKee is a 6-foot-6, 231-pound former sixth-round pick from Stanford who completed 28-of-44 passes for 228 yards with two touchdowns and one interception this preseason. Since coming into the league in 2023, the 26-year-old has thrown for 597 yards with five touchdowns and one interception in six regular season games.
Though he has had very limited playing time in Philadelphia, McKee has created significant buzz around the league. It is quite possible that due to his youth, a quarterback-needy team can project McKee as a potential starter in the near future. As a result, Philadelphia may entertain a midseason trade for the backup signal caller if the price is right.
Roseman holds the leverage in trade talks
The Eagles brass has kept it close to the vest and has not declared who the No. 2 quarterback is. If McKee is moved, 38-year-old Dalton is more than capable of taking over the reins as Philadelphia’s primary backup. Though Dalton is coming off a mediocre preseason with 15 completions on 29 attempts, 148 yards and one touchdown, he is entering his 16th season and has nearly 40,000 career passing yards to his credit.
Thanks to the offseason acquisition of Dalton, general manager Howie Roseman has set himself up with great leverage. Philadelphia has the luxury of standing pat and waiting for a serious trade partner to emerge. Of course, that luxury disappears if Hurts goes down with an injury and McKee is pressed into action.
McKee is in the final year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the league year. I wouldn’t exactly say the Eagles are under the gun to make a decision on McKee right now, but the clock is certainly ticking. I can’t imagine the Eagles doling out big money to retain McKee beyond this year, especially if Hurts remains healthy and continues to play at a Pro Bowl level. Therefore, a midseason trade seems to be the most likely conclusion to Philadelphia’s backup quarterback saga.
