The time for the Philadelphia Eagles to pick a backup quarterback is quickly approaching. There’s one preseason game remaining, but many analysts are already beginning to weigh in on who should backup Jalen Hurts to begin the 2026 NFL regular season.
SI on Eagles’ Jeff Kerr argued it should be Tanner McKee for two reasons. Yes, he’s outplayed fellow quarterback Andy Dalton in the preseason. But Dalton also has done little to provide McKee quality competition for the job.
“McKee should be the front runner for QB2, as Dalton has been dreadful this preseason,” wrote Kerr.
“Dalton has been getting more snaps than McKee in practice, but McKee has significantly outperformed him in the preseason games. McKee has been with the third team for the majority of those games, yet that should be in the plus column based on how well he’s played.
“Payton hasn’t done anything to make this roster. He’ll stick around, however, as the Eagles will attempt to deal the loser of the QB2 competition. That should be Dalton, who played his way off the 53.”
In two preseason games this month, Dalton has completed 6 of 16 passes for 64 yards. He’s averaging just four yards per attempt and hasn’t thrown a touchdown.
Andy Dalton Projected to Miss Eagles Roster
GettyThe Philadelphia Eagles acquired quarterback Andy Dalton from the Carolina Panthers this offseason.
Kerr argued Monday morning that Dalton has played his way off the Eagles roster. Kerr made that point when he projected the team’s entire 53-man roster.
At quarterback, Kerr predicted the Eagles to keep Hurts, McKee and rookie Cole Payton.
Dalton missing the team’s roster appears to be a growing narrative.
To begin this week, several Eagles insiders/analysts weighed in on the looming roster decisions the team must make. The Athletic’s Zach Berman and Brooks Kubena each predicted Dalton to get cut.
NJ.com’s Cayden Steele did as well.
Dalton is entering his 16th NFL season. He’s been a quality backup for four of the past five years. In the lone season he wasn’t a backup over the past half a decade, 2022, he went 6-8 as a starter with the New Orleans Saints.
Dalton is 84-83-2 in his career as a starter.
But at 38 years old, he hasn’t taken to Philadelphia’s new offense as quickly as McKee. With the Eagles likely to keep Payton as a developmental project, that means Dalton is the odd-man out.
Will Eagles Trade Dalton?
GettySI on Eagles’ Jeff Kerr predicted Nick Sirianni and the Philadelphia Eagles to cut veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.
The Eagles sent a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Panthers for Dalton. If he loses Philadelphia’s backup quarterback job, he might not even be worth a seventh-rounder on the trade market.
But the Eagles trying to trade Dalton before Sunday makes the most sense. A team could be desperate enough for quarterback depth that it gives up a late pick for a veteran.
It doesn’t hurt the Eagles to at least shop Dalton to try and recoup the seventh-rounder it cost to acquire him.
The Eagles will have to make their roster decision with Dalton before Sunday. The team must trim its roster to 53 players by 6 pm ET on August 30.
Eagles QB ‘Played His Way Off’ the Roster This Preseason: Analyst