Philadelphia, PA — Tanner McKee is back in the middle of the quarterback conversation, and this time the buzz feels stronger because the league’s 2026 QB market remains thin and unsettled. McKee is still on his rookie four-year deal with the Eagles, and Philadelphia continues to value him behind Jalen Hurts.

That stance has not stopped rival teams from checking in. After another year of development in 2025, McKee’s value has remained quietly strong because he is still young, inexpensive, and under team control through 2026.

Around the league, executives know exactly what he is now. He is not viewed as a finished franchise quarterback, but as a high-upside backup with size, arm talent, and enough developmental intrigue to justify real trade interest.

That matters even more in an offseason where several teams either lack a dependable starter or are still searching for a workable bridge into the draft and beyond.

From Philadelphia’s perspective, the dilemma is obvious. McKee did not get many chances in 2025, but the Eagles still believe he holds long-term value as a quality backup and possible future starter.

That is why the Eagles have resisted moving him, even with interest building. The organization still sees him as a cheap and reliable reserve behind Hurts, especially after another season of growth inside the system.

Still, the NFL rarely leaves a promising young quarterback alone for long. When teams get nervous, injuries hit, or long-term plans remain unclear, a player like McKee becomes increasingly attractive.

League sources continue to view McKee as one of the more intriguing developmental quarterbacks available because of his 6-foot-6 frame, low-cost contract, strong preseason flashes, and the fact that Philadelphia is not desperate to move him.

That combination is exactly why the market has started heating up again. Several teams do not necessarily need a star right now, but they do need youth, upside, and a quarterback worth developing.

Here is where the strongest interest around the league is being connected most often:

• Cleveland Browns: The Browns remain one of the clearest fits. Their quarterback picture still lacks stability, and McKee offers a younger developmental option with more upside than a short-term veteran rental.
• New York Jets: The Jets also make sense here. Even after reshaping parts of their quarterback room, they are still a team that could justify adding a young passer to develop behind a bridge option.
• Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders continue to stand out as a logical destination. McKee would give Las Vegas a bigger-framed developmental quarterback who could compete for future snaps without immediate franchise pressure.
• Pittsburgh Steelers: Pittsburgh remains an easy team to connect. The Steelers still do not have long-term certainty under center, and McKee fits the profile of a quarterback worth grooming in a stable environment.
• New Orleans Saints: The Saints are another team worth watching closely. With uncertainty still surrounding their long-term quarterback plans, McKee could appeal as an inexpensive investment with room to grow.
• Atlanta Falcons: Atlanta deserves mention because its room still invites questions beyond the present. McKee could be viewed as a developmental reserve with enough physical tools to be worth a longer look.
• Arizona Cardinals: Arizona remains a natural speculative fit after major change at quarterback. The Cardinals could see value in bringing in a young passer who still has developmental runway left.
• Miami Dolphins: Miami cannot be ignored either. The Dolphins still need more clarity and depth in the quarterback room, and McKee would bring low-cost upside without forcing a major commitment.

The eighth team drawing real attention is Minnesota’s broader QB orbit, though that possibility has cooled. The Vikings had been linked to several quarterback possibilities before making other moves to stabilize the room.

So even if no deal is imminent today, the market is heating up again. And in a league constantly searching for cheap quarterback upside, Tanner McKee may quietly become one of the more interesting trade names of the offseason.