Eagles preseason superstar Tanner McKee called his shot after Madden snub

The Philadelphia Eagles have kept themselves competitive by making the most of their assets, even as perpetual success limits draft capital. Before the league was out on Carson Wentz, they took quarterback Jalen Hurts in Day 2. They've turned a first-round pick into A.J. Brown, rolled the dice on Jalen Carter's sinking stock, and found an All-Pro offensive tackle on the other side of the globe.

General manager Howie Roseman is among the best in the sport, and his next move might have become apparent on Thursday.

Tanner McKee showed out

Backup quarterback Tanner McKee, a 2023 sixth-round pick, has sit behind a handful of second-string passers, doing his best work in the preseason but attempting just 45 passes in his NFL career.

In that time, he's become one of the better-kept secrets in the NFL. He looks the part, and it's clear Philadelphia thinks highly of him.

EA Sports, apparently, doesn't. In a video released by the team ahead of their preseason opener, McKee learned that he was a 61 overall.

"Whoa! Madden, come on man," he joked. "Alright, watch Thursday. Tune in. Be ready."

On Thursday, Philadelphia hosted the Cincinnati Bengals and gave McKee the lion's share of playing time. He responded with a casual 252 yards and two touchdowns while completing 20-of-25 attempts. McKee looked like the best player of Preseason Week 1, exhibiting strong timing and an ability to stretch the field, even against the Bengals' starting defense.

MORE: Eagles have big plans for Saquon Barkley as a receiver

In doing so, McKee put himself on the radar, inserting his name in trade rumors and raising his national profile. 

It's worth noting that Philadelphia traded last year's second-string quarterback, Kenny Pickett, to the Cleveland Browns for quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick. In the 2025 NFL Draft, they took Syracuse passer Kyle McCord in Round 6. Both made cameos in Thursday's 34-27 win, although neither left much of an impression.

The Eagles could look to capitalize on McKee's hype, having two extra bodies as reinforcements should they receive legitimate draft capital for his services. What seems more likely, though, is that they feel comfortable with his development and would prefer to hold onto him as insurance during a Super Bowl window, raising the floor of a worst-case scenario in which Jalen Hurts goes down while also inflating his value.

McKee put on a show. While the Eagles may not act on it, Madden probably should.

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