Why the Eagles traded for a QB and what it means for this rookie

Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles were busy on Sunday, making a couple trades and reshuffling the quarterback depth chart ahead of Tuesday’s roster deadline.

The Eagles traded for Vikings quarterback Sam Howell, adding an experienced backup for Jalen Hurts while Tanner McKee recovers from an injury ahead of next week’s opener.

Let’s take a closer look at why the Eagles traded for Howell — and what it means for the rest of the quarterbacks as Roseman and Co. prepare to cut the roster down to 53 players.

Trade details: The Eagles didn’t give up much here. They sent a 2026 fifth-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for Howell and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Roseman, thanks to his wheeling and dealing, is loaded with draft capital. But after winning the Super Bowl, the Eagles sit last on the waiver wire. Dropping back a round on Day Three was a savvy move to secure an experienced backup and avoid Howell being claimed by another team if/when he was cut.

How he fits: There’s a reason why Howell was available. The soon-to-be 25-year-old reportedly had a rough camp after joining the Vikings in the spring. J.J. McCarthy is the starter, rookie Max Brosmer impressed, and Carson Wentz signed to be their veteran backup.

But the Eagles were happy to bring in Howell for insurance purposes. It’s unclear if McKee, dealing with that finger injury, will be ready for the opener against the Cowboys. And Howell, who started all 17 games for the Commanders in 2023, is a more NFL-ready option than Kyle McCord. The sixth-round rookie out of Syracuse struggled mightily throughout the preseason.

Howell is far from a great quarterback. In 2023, he threw for 3,946 yards and completed 63.4% of his passes. But he had as many interceptions (a league-leading 21) as he did touchdowns. Still, he’s a better emergency option than McCord if McKee is out for a few weeks.

What’s next?Dorian Thompson-Robinson was already cut, and McCord will probably meet a similar fate by Tuesday’s roster deadline. The former St. Joseph’s Prep star just hasn’t done enough to earn a roster spot. However, there is a chance McCord gets through waivers and ends up back in Philadelphia on the practice squad.

McKee, meanwhile, has flashed the last two preseasons and looked really good in last year’s Week 18 win over the New York Giants. Surely, there are QB-needy teams that would trade for him now. But the Eagles, knowing they could still compete with McKee if something happened to Hurts, are unlikely to do that with a Super Bowl-or-bust mindset.

As for Howell, this isn’t a long-term backup play. The 2022 fifth-round pick is in the last year of his rookie deal. If the Eagles trade McKee next offseason, the 2026 draft class is expected to be stocked at quarterback. Howell is likely gone after this season.