The Eagles left themselves with a quarterback logjam after cutdown weekend, and the cleanest move now is obvious: send Andy Dalton elsewhere and turn the surplus into something useful.
Philadelphia’s training camp gave the clearest clue about where this was headed. Tanner McKee started getting second-team reps behind Jalen Hurts, a sign the team was still giving the younger passer real runway in the QB2 battle. Dalton had the bigger NFL résumé, but the Eagles kept putting meaningful practice time into McKee, which made it clear he was very much in the mix for the backup job.
Then came Sunday’s roster call, and it only made the situation messier. The Eagles kept four quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster: Hurts, McKee, Dalton and fifth-round rookie Cole Payton. That kind of depth might help Philadelphia avoid losing leverage during cutdown weekend, but it also clogs up the roster when those spots could go to more pressing needs.
That’s why Dalton stands out as the player who should be moved. A trade to the New York Jets for a conditional sixth-round pick in 2027 makes sense for both sides.
The Eagles got Dalton from Carolina for a seventh-round pick in 2027 back in March, so flipping him for a slightly better return a few months later would be a tidy piece of business for Howie Roseman. It would also let McKee settle in as Hurts’ main backup while Payton develops as the third-string quarterback without Philadelphia having to keep all four passers.
The Jets fit as a destination because their quarterback depth behind Geno Smith is thin. Fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik won the backup job after a strong preseason, but counting on a rookie who has never taken a regular-season NFL snap is a risky setup, especially behind a 35-year-old starter. New York had already looked into veteran quarterback help earlier this offseason, and Dalton would give them the kind of experienced insurance that can steady the room without blocking Klubnik’s growth.
The trade value here isn’t some fantasy return, either. A conditional sixth-round pick is about right for Dalton, given that he’s 38 years old and was only acquired for a seventh-rounder just months ago.
Philadelphia is not going to squeeze major draft capital out of this. But converting an extra quarterback into even modest future value beats carrying four into September.
McKee’s uneven preseason finale doesn’t really change the picture. Against Cincinnati, he completed 12 of 22 passes for 55 yards, and Dalton was better in the preseason overall, but neither quarterback fully put the competition to bed. Nick Sirianni later called the quarterback room a “good spot,” saying the staff feels comfortable with both options even after the Eagles went winless in the preseason.
That comfort is fine. Four quarterbacks on the active roster is not.
Hurts is locked in as the starter, McKee has earned a place, and Payton is protected. Dalton is the movable piece, and before Week 1, Philadelphia should turn that extra arm into something more useful.
In Other News...
Eagles Just Lost Two Draft Picks They Wanted To Keep
The Eagles made their first round of roster cuts this week, and four players they had brought through camp did not make it to the practice squad stage. Cameron Latu, Kapena Gushiken, Cameron Williams and Myles Hinton were all claimed off waivers by other NFL teams after Philadelphia trimmed to its initial 53-man roster, a reminder that even the back end of the roster can draw real interest around the league.
For Philadelphia, the biggest sting came from Williams and Hinton, both 2025 draft picks the team had hoped to keep developing. Williams was grabbed by the Falcons and Hinton by the Bengals, while Latu landed with the Patriots and Gushiken with the Colts. It leaves the Eagles with a thinner pipeline than they wanted in a part of the roster where patience and coaching are usually part of the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Initial 53-Man Roster Includes A Few Surprises Fans Will Notice
The Eagles have turned in their initial 53-man roster, and the list comes with a few wrinkles that will catch fans eyes right away. Philadelphia is carrying four quarterbacks for now in Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Andy Dalton and Cole Payton, a rare setup that underscores how unsettled the back end of the position can look even after the roster cutdown.
There were other notable omissions, too, with both International Pathway Program players Uar Bernard and Joshua Weru getting cut. None of the Eagles three seventh-round picks made the roster either, leaving the final depth chart across receiver, tight end, the offensive line, pass rush, defensive tackle, linebacker, corner and specialist spots with a few openings still worth watching as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Familiar Option For A Real Roster Need
The Eagles have their 53-man roster in place, but the work around the edges is still going on, and one of the most familiar names in the building is suddenly back in the conversation. Philadelphia is weighing practice-squad options, and veteran tight end Zach Ertz is among the possibilities as the team looks for help at a position that does not have much depth right now.
Ertz is still coming back from a knee injury, so nothing is official yet and the idea remains just that for the moment. Still, the fit is easy to understand for a team that knows exactly what he can bring if he is healthy enough to contribute, and the next move at tight end could wind up being one of the more interesting decisions left on the roster. [Read more 🡒]