The Philadelphia Eagles added a fourth quarterback to their roster in the 2026 NFL Draft. While Eagles general manager Howie Roseman told reporters immediately after the draft the team could carry a fourth signal-caller in 2026, one team reporter isn’t buying it yet.
While listing four potential players possibly worried about making the roster, Penn Live’s Johnny McGonigal suggested quarterback Andy Dalton as a potential cut candidate.
“I still wouldn’t be surprised if backup Tanner McKee, who’s in the last year of his rookie contract, is traded for draft capital. Roseman also said they’d be comfortable rostering four QBs. But that doesn’t seem realistic. And if it’s only three QBs, Dalton would be the odd man out,” wrote McGonigal.
“The Eagles hold Cole Payton in high regard as a developmental project. They drafted the North Dakota State fifth-rounder when it wasn’t a glaring need. They won’t want to let another team sign him off their practice squad, so he’ll be on the 53-man.”
The Eagles just acquired Dalton this offseason. They agreed to send a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for the veteran signal-caller.
Dalton is 84-83-2 in his career as an NFL starter. He will be entering his 16th season in the league this fall.
Could Eagles Part Ways With QB Andy Dalton?
The idea the Eagles could release Dalton seems rather odd. Philadelphia just acquired the veteran quarterback this offseason.
But the team has four quarterbacks with the selection of Cole Payton in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Payton is clearly the QB4 on the team’s depth chart, but few would suggest the Eagles part with the rookie after just drafting him.
Pundits probably shouldn’t completely rule out that possibility. Day 3 selections don’t always make NFL rosters.
But it would be surprising if the Eagles moved on from a fifth-round quarterback within months.
Starting quarterback Jalen Hurts is obviously safe. The other signal-caller on Philadelphia’s roster is Tanner McKee.
The 26-year-old could be a trade candidate this offseason. ESPN has continuously linked McKee to the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason.
But there doesn’t appear to be too many quarterback openings at the moment.
Maybe that changes after training camp injuries start to happen. Or perhaps a team such as the Green Bay Packers pursues McKee as a backup upgrade.
McGonigal, though, clearly sees the Eagles keeping Mckee as their own backup and maybe shopping Dalton.
Will the Eagles Keep 4 Quarterbacks?
Allotting four roster spots to quarterbacks doesn’t happen very often. But Payton’s athleticism could make that more possible for the Eagles this fall.
After Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, head coach Nick Sirianni addressed the potential of getting Payton on the field immediately this season.
“We’ll see. We’ll see how that goes. We’re going to get him here, get him acclimated here. We’ll have a chance next weekend at rookie minicamp, learning the playbook,” said Sirianni when asked if he was open to finding a way to get Payton on the field in 2026. “Then we’ll see where we go from there.”
The Eagles head coach raved about Payton’s athleticism. The quarterback ran for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns at the FCS level last season.
Perhaps the Eagles could use Payton as a runner or in the “tush push” formation during 2026. If the team plans that, then the Eagles could consider Payton as more of a RB4 on the roster than a fourth quarterback.
This is also assuming all four quarterbacks are healthy for the Eagles at the end of August. Part of why teams stock offseason rosters with four signal-callers is because injuries happen.
Philadelphia will only be faced with its four-quarterback decision and whether or not to keep Dalton if the veteran and other signal-callers are healthy.
Eagles QB Pegged Possible Cut Candidate After NFL Draft