Could Eagles shop backup QB Tanner McKee after reported interest in Patriots Joe Milton?

The Dallas Cowboys made a move to solve their backup quarterback problem on Thursday, swinging a trade with the New England Patriots for intriguing young prospect Joe Milton.

The Cowboys reportedly sent a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Patriots in the deal for Milton and a 2025 seventh-rounder. That’s a more than reasonable price for Dallas, when you consider Milton’s upside and teams like the Eagles, Raiders, Giants and Steelers showing interest in the former Tennessee Volunteers star.

The Philadelphia Eagles already traded their own backup quarterback in Kenny Pickett, landing a fifth-round pick (No. 164 overall) and developmental QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson from the Cleveland Browns. With the trade market heating up, and NFL teams reportedly down on the 2025 draft class, could the Eagles strike while the iron’s hot and shop current backup Tanner McKee to QB-needy teams like the Raiders, Giants and Steelers?

While scooping up an extra fifth-round pick is nice, Philly’s decision to trade Pickett this offseason was more of a reflection on McKee than anything. He outplayed Pickett in training camp and the preseason last year, and balled out when given an opportunity to play late in the regular season. McKee torched the Giants for 269 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 18 spot-start, and it would surprise no one if New York was interested in at least kicking the tires on Philly’s 2023 sixth-round pick.

Why would the Eagles be interested in acquiring Milton from the Patriots? It’s possible they covet his dynamic skillset and rushing ability as a potential backup to Jalen Hurts. He’s got one of the biggest arms in football — they don’t call him “Bazooka Joe” for nothing — and is an intriguing prospect after putting on a show in Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills last season.

If the Pats got a fifth-round pick for Milton, the Eagles could potentially score a top-100 selection for McKee, who’s the more polished passer at this point. The guess here, though, is that Philly won’t be able to justify moving their top backup to Hurts without an offer they can’t refuse.

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McKee is young (24), cheap (about $1 million per year) and has QB1 upside. Philly will eventually want to cash in for him, as that’s how the game is played in the NFL, but with the team holding a projected 20 combined selections between the 2025 and 2026 drafts, now feels like an imperfect time to make the move.

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