McKee’s spot as No. 2 quarterback not secure

That is a steep, steep asking price for McKee, who was a sixth-round pick in 2023 and has attempted exactly 88 passes in his career. According to Cimini, the Jets called Philly about trading for McKee before acquiring Geno Smith, and were told it would cost a second-round pick for the Eagles to deal the 6-foot-6 pocket passer. It was recently reported that a trade market is not “emerging” for McKee. If this asking price is true, then those reports should come as no surprise.

It sure seems like the Eagles would have to sell lower than they’d like on McKee if they were to move on, but it’s possible they decide to simply bite the bullet on that as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. McKee has been a rumored object of affection for Jets OC Frank Reich, and New York’s backup job remains open.

It was previously reported that the Panthers were getting calls for Andy Dalton. The team then went out and signed Kenny Pickett, making it clear they were moving on from Dalton this offseason. Getting even a seventh-round pick in return for Dalton is mildly impressive for Panthers GM Dan Morgan. After the trade, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo insisted, “Tanner McKee firmly locked into the No. 2 spot behind Jalen Hurts.” That would be a bit odd given that the Eagles just sought out Dalton, though they did carry three quarterbacks on their roster last year.

Newton adds “even if it means releasing Dalton and leaving $3.83 million in dead cap money.” Things really crashed down hard from the Andy Dalton Combine “getting calls” experience. Dalton, who turns 39 in October, likely proved that he just wasn’t a good enough backup last year in his start against the Bills to keep paying a premium on. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Panthers cut him.

Entering the final year of his rookie contract, the Day 2 pick would stand to reason to be a potential solution elsewhere if dealt. The Eagles staking a high price on him is normal — this is what Howie Roseman does — but we’d be curious how hard he’d stand on that position given the many needs the Eagles have and how easily he seems to be able to create new backup quarterback solutions.

This comes a day after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Panthers had been receiving calls about Dalton for a potential trade. Morgan said he “would talk to Andy” about any requests for a trade that may come through, but it’s hard to imagine the 38-year-old signal-caller being in high demand with free agency and the draft still to go. Dalton has one more year remaining on his current deal with the Panthers, and could make for a nice bridge for a team bringing in a younger quarterback, but wouldn’t be viewed as anything more than a one-year option.

Dalton has one year left on his current deal in Carolina. The team signed him as Bryce Young’s backup in 2023. He saw significant playing time in 2024 and the team kept him around as a break glass incase of emergency option to replace Young. Dalton was only needed for one start last year. He threw for 175 scoreless yards and an interception while taking seven sacks. The Panthers got trounced by the Bills with a final score of 9-40. The fact that there are still teams interested in Dalton, even as a backup, speaks to the stagnant state of quarterback play across the league. The Panthers wouldn’t fetch more than a late-round pick for Dalton.

New Jets OC Frank Reich “has a close relationship with Eagles coach Nick Sirianni” and McKee “fits the physical mold of a Reich QB” per Rosenblatt. Rosenblatt also links the Jets to Geno Smith (if released), Jacoby Brissett and Kirk Cousins. McKee would be an interesting trade target after a couple of spot starts in Week 18 the past few years. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2026 and would probably cost the Jets at least a Day 2 pick, but it would undoubtedly be a higher-upside play than relying on Smith or Cousins.

Hurts still has three years left on the five-year, $255 million extension he signed in 2023, but according to Silver, “NFL sources familiar with the Eagles’ organizational mindset believe they might draft a quarterback this spring.” This wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen the Eagles use a high-end draft pick to rug pull a franchise quarterback already on a lucrative deal. Back in 2020, the team shocked everyone when they used a second-round pick on Hurts to eventually serve as the replacemnent for Carson Wentz, who had just signed a four-year, $128 million contract extension in 2019. Hurts and the Eagles struggled mightily on offense. The switch from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to Kevin Patullo didn’t go as planned, and the team has already moved to improve on their play-calling situation next season by removing Patullo from that role. It would still be surprising to see the Eagles move on from Hurts after one down season after he lead the team to a Super Bowl title in 2024, but given the Eagles’ history of how they manage the quarterback position, this will remain something to watch leading up to draft day.

McKee put together a middling performance playing with the Eagles’ reserve squad. The Eagles were playing for the No. 2 seed in the NFC and battled to the end against the eliminated Commanders, dropping a one-score game and clinching the No. 3 seed. McKee made his second career start with Philadelphia resting its starters ahead of the playoffs. He threw a 15-yard touchdown to Grant Calcaterra in the second quarter to open scoring but an interception at the goal line later in the quarter would haunt him. He struggled with inaccuracy in the fourth quarter when driving to tie or lead the game, ultimately sailing a fourth down pass out of bounds to end it. McKee has been a rumored trade target at times over the past offseason, but if he does stay put in Philadelphia, he’ll merely be Jalen Hurts’ backup in 2026.