The Green Bay Packers are actively addressing their offseason needs, but the backup quarterback position is still a pressing concern. With Malik Willis heading to the Miami Dolphins via free agency, the Packers need a reliable backup plan for Jordan Love.
Enter an intriguing opportunity from the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles just acquired veteran quarterback Andy Dalton from the Carolina Panthers for a 2027 seventh-round pick, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. While that price tag might have suited the Packers, it opens the door for a different strategy: targeting Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee.
Why Tanner McKee Makes Sense for Green Bay
McKee is a compelling option if the Packers follow the playbook they used with Willis before the 2024 season. The Titans made it clear Willis wasn't in their long-term plans, trading him to Green Bay for a 2025 seventh-round pick. Willis thrived as Love's backup, eventually cashing in during free agency, and the Packers recouped their investment with a 2027 compensatory pick.
McKee, a seventh-round pick in 2023, has shown promise in his three years with the Eagles. He's completed 54-of-88 passes (61.4 percent) for 597 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception over six games, including two starts. Despite NFL Network's Mike Garafolo indicating the Eagles intend to keep McKee as their second quarterback, Dalton's arrival-with a $3.6 million base salary-raises questions about McKee's future in Philly.
Eliot Shorr-Parks suggested on social media that Dalton's acquisition might signal a potential trade involving McKee. The Eagles could keep Dalton as an emergency QB or even release him if McKee stays. Shorr-Parks expressed surprise at the Eagles' move, hinting it reflects their stance on McKee’s development.
With McKee in the final year of his contract, the Eagles might not consider him a long-term fit, which could be the perfect opening for the Packers. Currently, Green Bay has Desmond Ridder and former Eagle Kyle McCord backing up Love. McKee, who outperformed McCord on Philadelphia’s practice squad, offers more potential than Ridder, who hasn’t seen game action recently.
While acquiring McKee might cost more than the Eagles' price for Dalton, it could provide the Packers with the QB2 upgrade they need. If Philadelphia is open to a trade, Green Bay should be ready to make a move.