Grading the trade: Eagles make a big-name quarterback move, blurring Tanner McKee’s future in Philly
Philadelphia could look to trade their young QB now.
Howie Roseman is back on the phones for the Philadelphia Eagles. This time, his latest trade could signal the end of the Tanner McKee era in Philly.
Eagles trade for veteran QB Andy Dalton to be Jalen Hurts’ backup
According to Adam Schefter, the Eagles have traded a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton is the 38 years old. He has totaled 169 regular-season starts during his NFL career.
This move makes plenty of sense to me. Dalton is an upgrade on Tanner McKee, even if many fans will disparage that belief. He has proven he can be one of the most capable backup quarterbacks in the NFL in recent years.
Andy Dalton trade GRADE: B
Future of Tanner McKee just got a lot more intriguing for Philly fans
As for McKee, yes, there’s been some exciting preseason moments. The Eagles have largely made positive comments regarding his development.
Trading him for legitimate compensation is the best choice now, though.
The ceiling for McKee was probably always a solid backup in the NFL. His skillset and physical traits presented that sort of profile as a prospect, and he’s lived up to it so far.
With this move by the Birds, it would make sense to flip McKee to a team looking for a young backup QB who can come in in a pinch due to an injury to their starter. We will see if the Eagles choose that route, but that seems like the smartest move since keeping both McKee and Dalton on the active roster feels unnecessary.
Not to mention, the return could be a net positive for the Eagles considering the low price of acquiring Dalton. Feels like a move Roseman would make at this point, given expectations for the Eagles in 2026.
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