It’s Tanner McKee time in Philly! (As QB2, of course.)
We have a trade!
The Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns have agreed to a swap on the first day of the NFL’s negotiating window, according to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
And, no, it’s not for Myles Garrett since he already signed a big contract extension with the Browns.
The terms:
EAGLES RECEIVE — 2025 fifth-round pick (originally from the Detroit Lions), QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
BROWNS RECEIVE — QB Kenny Pickett
This is a nice deal for the Birds!
We previously wrote that they should be trying to trade Pickett this offseason:
The Eagles should certainly be open to trading Pickett, who will be a free agent after the 2025 season. Dealing him allows the Eagles to 1) recoup some draft ammo, 2) clear $2.6 million in cap space, and 3) open up the QB2 job for a deserving Tanner McKee. My guess on realistic compensation is a fourth-round pick that could conditionally turn into a third-round selection based on playing time. Perhaps that’s too ambitious? I don’t know. Maybe some team will look at the relative success of Sam Darnold/Baker Mayfield/Jared Goff and think that Pickett still has potential. The Eagles won’t be looking to merely dump Pickett, nor should they. The guess here is that they will end up keeping him … but trading him seems ideal.
The Eagles originally acquired Pickett in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason. He ultimately helped his favorite childhood team clinch the NFC East with a win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 when Jalen Hurts missed time due to a concussion.
But while Pickett provides value as an experienced backup, it was clearly time to turn the page to Tanner McKee. McKee arguably outperformed Pickett whenever he’s had a chance to play.
McKee figures to be Hurts’ primary backup in 2025. The newly acquired DTR could push him for that role but it’s more likely the 2023 third-round selection will end up as the emergency third quarterback.
DTR, who turns 26 in November, isn’t too much older than McKee, who turns 25 in April. DTR does have some more experience than McKee, having made five career starts. He’s gone 1-4 in those games with just a 58.7 passer rating, however.
All told, a good move by Howie Roseman. They added ammo for the 2025 NFL Draft, they cleared some cap space, they arguably upgraded the QB2, and they even added a QB3 option.
