Taking a closer look at Eagles' backup QB battle in 2026 training camp
Taking a closer look at Eagles' backup QB battle in 2026 training camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia We’re getting close to Eagles training camp so we’re taking a look at five notable camp competitions this summer. We already took a look at safety , receiver , offensive line and edge rusher . Up today: Backup QB. No matter what you think about Jalen Hurts or where you would rank him on the dozens of QB lists that come out, he’s clearly the Eagles’ franchise quarterback. He’s a Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl MVP and the unquestioned leader of the 2026 Eagles. But it’s a little tougher to figure out the backup spot in 2026. Because while Tanner McKee is returning for his fourth season after being the primary backup in 2025, the Eagles also added veteran Andy Dalton in a trade in March. During the spring, those two were splitting reps working with the No. 2 offense. So this looks like a competition. Let’s get into it: Tanner McKee Age: 26 Experience: Year 4 Size: 6-foot-6, 231 The Eagles always want to invest in the quarterback position and they did that in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, selecting McKee with the No. 188 overall pick out of Stanford. Getting a trustworthy backup QB in the sixth round is seen by the organization as a clear-cut win. McKee was the third-stringer in 2023 and 2024 behind Marcus Mariota and Kenny Pickett but became the backup in 2025. McKee’s only start in 2024 went well but his Week 18 performance last year wasn’t very good. Working with the backups against the Commanders in January, McKee completed just 21 of 40 passes for 241 yards with a touchdown and an interception. That performance might have hurt his trade value. But the Eagles have seen him up close for three years now so they have a good idea of what McKee can do. They went into a season after a Super Bowl with him as a backup, so the Birds clearly trust McKee. Andy Dalton Age: 38 Experience: Year 16 Size: 6-foot-2, 220 pounds So if they trust McKee, why did the Eagles trade for Dalton? Fair question. Part of it was probably value. The Eagles gave up just a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Panthers to get Dalton in March. While he’s past his prime, Dalton has started 169 games in his career and has the type of experience that teams often like in a backup quarterback. Like we mentioned with McKee, a huge element for backups is the trust factor. The coaches can trust a guy like Dalton. Even though he hasn’t been a full-time starter for several years, Dalton spent the last three as a backup in Carolina. Cole Payton Age: 23 Experience: Rookie Size: 6-foot-2, 232 pounds We don’t expect the rookie fifth-round pick to compete for the backup job in 2026, but Payton is an intriguing prospect because of his dual-threat ability. Last season with North Dakota State, Payton threw for 2,719 yards and ran for another 777 with 13 touchdowns. That has some folks wondering if the Eagles might be able to find a non-QB role for Payton as a rookie. Yes, he’s one of the many players who has gotten the Taysom Hill comp over the last several years. Payton will have to prove himself before that happens and he’ll have to show that he can also help on special teams. But as long as he looks solid in training camp, the Eagles are probably going to keep him on the 53-man roster, which could mean keeping four QBs. Outlook That becomes the next big question. Would the Eagles really keep four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster? Roster spots are precious, so that’s not an ideal way to build. But the Eagles value the position and have said publicly they would keep four. Perhaps a team comes calling with an offer for McKee or Dalton. That seems possible and with a surplus at the position, the Eagles could decide to be opportunistic this summer. Until then, this is looking like a competition. But there’s a chance the battle is decided when Howie Roseman makes a trade
