Jalen Hurts is clearly a big-game player

The Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl season is over and the 2025 NFL offseason is officially here. We’re kicking off our Eagles roster outlook series by examining the quarterback position.

THE PLAYERS

JALEN HURTS

STATS: 934 snaps played, 15 games played, 15 starts, 248/361 (68.7%), 2903 yards (8.0 yards per attempt), 18 TD, 5 INT, 103.7 passer rating … 150 rushes, 630 yards (4.2 yards per attempt), 14 TD … 9 fumbles

PLAYOFF STATS: 256 snaps played, 4 games played, 4 starts, 65/91 (71.4%), 726 yards (8.0 yards per attempt), 5 TD, 1 INT, 108.6 passer rating … 34 rushes, 194 yards (5.7 yards per attempt), 5 TD … 1 fumble

REVIEW: Hurts had a pretty great training camp, which made his early season struggles surprising. The Eagles transitioned to a lower volume passing offense coming out of their Week 5 bye and that approach obviously paid huge dividends. Hurts did well to protect the ball as the Eagles mainly relied on Saquon Barkley and an elite defense as their winning formula. There was question if the passing offense was going to be good enough if/when it was eventually needed … and it certainly was. Hurts was absolutely sensational in the Eagles’ two biggest matchups of the season, the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LIX. According to Sheil Kapadia, Hurts ranks first in EPA per play among all quarterbacks who’ve played in that two-game stretch (either conference) since 2000. Fittingly, Hurts was crowned as the Eagles’ second-ever Super Bowl MVP.

OUTLOOK: Hurts is clearly a big-game player; he’s not one of these quarterbacks who put up awesome regular season numbers before shriveling in the playoffs. The Eagles’ future looks bright with Hurts under center. Aided by a strong support system around him, there’s every reason to believe the 26-year-old can guide them to even more championship success. It’s not like there’s any worry about Hurts — who is currently under contract through 2028 — becoming complacent. He’s already a legend in Philly for winning one Super Bowl but he seems extremely driven to add to his legacy.

MY TAKE: Stay.

KENNY PICKETT

STATS: 134 snaps played, 5 games played, 1 start, 25/42 (59.5%), 291 yards (6.9 yards per attempt), 2 TD, 1 INT, 86.5 passer rating … 9 rushes, 15 yards (1.7 yards per attempt), 1 TD … 1 fumble

PLAYOFF STATS: 12 snaps played, 0/1, 5 runs for -7 yards (all QB kneels)

REVIEW: Pickett didn’t play very well in training camp or the preseason but the Eagles stuck by him as QB2. He wasn’t really needed until Week 16, after Hurts suffered a concussion against Washington. Pickett did enough to give the Eagles a chance to win that game but he still didn’t look great. He did play better in a Week 17 start prior to leaving that game with a ribs injury.

OUTLOOK: The Eagles should certainly be open to trading Pickett, who will be a free agent after the 2025 season. Dealing him allows the Eagles to 1) recoup some draft ammo, 2) clear $2.6 million in cap space, and 3) open up the QB2 job for a deserving Tanner McKee. My guess on realistic compensation is a fourth-round pick that could conditionally turn into a third-round selection based on playing time. Perhaps that’s too ambitious? I don’t know. Maybe some team will look at the relative success of Sam Darnold/Baker Mayfield/Jared Goff and think that Pickett still has potential. The Eagles won’t be looking to merely dump Pickett, nor should they. The guess here is that they will end up keeping him … but trading him seems ideal.

MY TAKE: Go.

TANNER MCKEE

STATS: 89 snaps, 2 games played, 1 start, 30/45 (66.7%), 323 yards (7.2 yards per attempt), 4 TD, 0 INT, 117.2 passer rating … 5 rushes, -1 yard … 0 fumbles

REVIEW: McKee arguably outperformed Pickett in training camp and the preseason but the Eagles stuck with the latter as QB2. McKee largely served as the Eagles’ emergency third quarterback before Hurts’ concussion bumped him up to backup quarterback duty in Week 17. Pickett’s ribs injury then forced McKee onto the field in Week 17, where he immediately shined (albeit against a dilapidated Dallas Cowboys squad). McKee then got the chance to make his first career NFL start when the Eagles rested starters against the New York Giants in Week 18. McKee looked liked a legitimate NFL quarterback in that game. McKee went back to being QB3 once Hurts returned in the playoffs.

OUTLOOK: The sample size is admittedly small … but it sure seems like McKee can ball. He has athletic limitations as a pure pocket passer but he throws with anticipation and accuracy. He’s been fun to watch. The feeling here is that the Eagles should trade Pickett and elevate McKee to QB2. Some might argue that the Eagles should trade McKee since he might be able to fetch more value given that he’s under contract for two more years while Pickett is only signed through 2025. But I think the Eagles would be better served to keep McKee.

MY TAKE: Stay.

IAN BOOK

REVIEW: The Eagles signed Book to have around as an emergency third quarterback after Hurts suffered a concussion in Week 16. He finished the season on the practice squad and was not re-signed as of me typing this sentence.

NFL FREE AGENCY OR TRADES

The Eagles don’t need to spend significant resources on a veteran quarterback. But they could add an inexpensive QB if they trade Pickett or McKee.

NFL DRAFT APPROACH

Can’t rule out The QB Factory spending a Day 3 pick on a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft if the value is good and they don’t keep both Pickett and McKee.