Tanner McKee's Long-Term Backup Quarterback Potential
The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to be one of the top teams in the National Football League. The roster is talented from top to bottom and is one of the best on paper. Even the quarterback room is among the best in the league.
Jalen Hurts is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and has had a lot of success since being named the Eagles’ starting quarterback. The two guys behind him on the depth chart both have the potential to have impactful careers with the Eagles or wherever else they may land in their careers.
The Eagles acquired Kenny Pickett and a fourth-round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers during the offseason. General manager Howie Roseman sent the Steelers a 2024 third-round pick and a pair of 2025 seventh-round picks in return. The Steelers selected Pickett No. 20 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. The 26-year-old started in 24 games across his two seasons in the Steel City. He’ll now be Hurts’ backup for at least this upcoming season.
There is a player who is making it difficult to lock Pickett in as the No. 2 quarterback. That would be 2023 sixth-round pick Tanner McKee. The Eagles drafted McKee last year to develop as a potential long-term backup for Hurts. The 24-year-old sat behind both Hurts and Marcus Mariota last season as the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart. He’s never played in an NFL game outside of the preseason.
McKee Vying For The Backup Quarterback Spot
McKee has impressed the Eagles organization in just his second year with the team. He went 6/16 for 39 yards in this year’s preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. He was impressive in the Eagles’ most recent preseason game against the New England Patriots creating a little drama for the No. 2 quarterback spot. McKee went 15/19 for 140 yards and made some impressive throws. He’ll have one more opportunity next Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings as the Eagles close out the preseason.
McKee hasn’t just had success this preseason. Looking back at last preseason, he played well in his first year in the NFL. He went 10/20 for 148 yards in his first-ever NFL action. He followed that up going 10/18 for 147 yards and a touchdown the next week. McKee went 19/34 for 158 yards in his final preseason action of 2023.
In five career preseason games, McKee has passed for 632 yards and a touchdown. That’s not bad for a former sixth-round pick who has seen limited action to start his career. It could be enough to convince the Eagles organization that he’s capable of being the backup quarterback in Philadelphia for a long time.
McKee is starting to be recognized within the organization and with the fans. Even with more attention, head coach Nick Sirianni is standing firm with Pickett as the No. 2 quarterback behind Hurts in 2024.
The Eagles value the backup quarterback position more than any other team. This was evident when they brought Nick Foles back to backup Cason Wentz, and then Foles went on to win the first Super Bowl in franchise history. It was also seen when they drafted Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft just after signing Wentz to a four-year deal worth $128 million. The most recent example was when Roseman traded for Pickett this offseason.
The Eagles are in a very good situation when it comes to the quarterback position. If Hurts were to miss time this season, Pickett and McKee look capable enough to step in and lead this team. The roster around them would make it that much easier of a transition. McKee is the No. 3 quarterback for now, but Eagles fans should get used to the former Stanford Cardinal as the backup for the future.