PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles possess the NFL’s most enviable problem: too much talent in the quarterback room. With Jalen Hurts locked in as the franchise cornerstone and the roster gearing up for another Super Bowl run, general manager Howie Roseman faces a critical decision regarding backup signal-caller Tanner McKee. The 25-year-old has quietly developed into a legitimate trade asset, and with the Pittsburgh Steelers desperate for stability under center, a deal between the cross-state rivals makes too much sense to ignore.
The Proposal: A Win-Win for Pennsylvania
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently outlined a scenario that solves headaches for both franchises. The proposed framework sends McKee to the Steelers in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a conditional 2027 third-round pick.
For Philadelphia, this is classic asset management. McKee enters the final year of his rookie deal in 2026. While he served admirably as the No. 2 option in 2025 following the Kenny Pickett trade, losing him for nothing in free agency next offseason would be a failure of process. Flipping a former sixth-round pick for two Day 2 selections represents the kind of “Roseman Magic” that keeps the Eagles’ championship window pried open.
Steelers’ desperation meets Eagles’ surplus
“The Steelers aren’t rebuilding, but they can’t stay stuck in this QB cycle forever. Six different quarterbacks have started games for the Steelers over the past four years… Enter McKee, who has drawn attention around the league for his work as Jalen Hurts’ backup.”
— Bill Barnwell, ESPN
Pittsburgh’s situation is dire. New head coach Mike McCarthy inherits a roster ready to win but lacks a trigger man. The rumored reunion with Aaron Rodgers offers little long-term security; Rodgers, entering his age-42 season, looked like a shell of his MVP self recently. Relying on him to resurrect the offense is a gamble McCarthy can’t afford to lose in year one.
The internal options aren’t much better. Veteran Mason Rudolph remains a steady but limited backup, and Will Howard—the team’s sixth-round pick—missed his entire rookie preseason with a hand injury. Howard remains an unknown commodity. McKee, conversely, has two years of NFL tape showing he can operate a pro-style offense efficiently.
Why Philadelphia pulls the trigger
The Eagles’ quarterback factory never stops. Even with Sam Howell pending free agency this March, Philadelphia has consistently demonstrated an ability to reload the backup position cheaply. They don’t need a premium backup on an expiring contract; they need draft capital to infuse youth into the defense.
Getting a third-rounder now (plus another later) for a player with six career games is a steal. It clears the deck for Roseman to draft a development project late or sign a veteran ring-chaser to hold the clipboard behind Hurts.
What’s Next
Watch for the Steelers to make a move before free agency opens. If Pittsburgh strikes out on the top-tier veteran market, expect their focus to shift rapidly to trade targets like McKee. For the Eagles, moving McKee now maximizes value before his contract leverage disappears. If the phone rings with a third-round offer, the deal gets done.
