Philadelphia Eagles fans were pretty surprised to find out that they have a new quarterback in their room, and one who has 15 years of NFL experience.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Eagles made a trade with the Carolina Panthers, in which Philly got quarterback Andy Dalton and the Panthers got a 2027 seventh-round pick. Dalton is a three-time Pro Bowler who has thrown for 39,793 yards and 254 touchdowns, with 151 interceptions, across five NFL teams.
The Eagles might have gotten a steal for Dalton, as he has been an effective starting and backup quarterback in the NFL for over a decade. This move, though, has more to it than just Philly adding a signal-caller.
Andy Dalton trade directly impacts Tanner McKee
Before the Dalton trade, the Eagles were down to just Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee in the quarterback room. While Hurts is the starter on the team, McKee's spot on the roster has been in question throughout the offseason, and it wasn't for a bad reason.
McKee has been the subject of trade rumors as he was originally attached to the New York Jets, but the reported asking price was too high. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman reported that he is asking for either a second-round pick or a third-round pick that could be converted to a second-round pick.
That might be a bit too high an asking price with a quarterback who has had two career starts, but Roseman did that on purpose. He doesn't want to give away McKee as he wants to earn as much value as possible for him in a trade.
There is a strong possibility that the Eagles could keep Hurts, McKee, and Dalton all on the same team, but Dalton is more of a second-string quarterback in the NFL. More than likely, this could push for more trade talks involving McKee and trying to land a good draft pick for him.
Read more: Adam Schefter shared his thoughts on when he expects Eagles to trade A.J. Brown
McKee could be close to being out the door, but if he isn't, the Eagles' quarterback room will definitely be upgraded in 2026.