$255,000,000 Deal Doesn’t Stop Philadelphia Eagles From Developing Behind Jalen Hurts, Drafting QB in Tom Brady’s Round

Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman famously stated that he wants the franchise to be a ‘Quarterback factory’ when the team drafted Jalen Hurts in 2020. Back then, fans questioned the selection of Hurts as they already had a franchise QB in the form of Carson Wentz. But after a dismal 2020 season, Hurts replaced Wentz as the QB for the franchise. And somehow, Roseman was right, as these events produced one of the most dynamic dual-threat QB in the franchise today. 

While the team recently signed a 5-year $255 million contract extension with Hurts, this does not stop them from planning to continue their efforts to produce more talented QBs in the league. So what are they planning for their future with QBs? Are they still planning to churn out QBs for the future?

Jalen Hurts is not the only QB in mind for the future

After the Eagles signed Hurts to a contract, it did not seem like they were ready to get comfortable and settle down. In the sixth round of the draft, the franchise selected Stanford QB Tanner McKee as their 188th overall pick. McKee goes in the same round as NFL GOAT Tom Brady, who was also selected by the Patriots as their 199th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2000 draft. And the rest of Brady’s time in the NFL is as historic as it can get. But the Eagles have Hurts, backup QB Marcus Mariota and Ian Book to play the QB role. So why draft McKee?

According to an article by Martin Frank for Delaware Online, the answer is kind of out there on the field itself, quarterbacks get hurt, and they get hurt often. Look at Brady, for example. He had a torn ACL during the first game of the 2008 season. Or look at Lamar Jackson, who has been out with a knee injury since last season. The best example, according to Roseman, is of the San Francisco 49ers.

Read more: Six Words From Recently Anointed $255 Million Worth Jalen Hurts Reestablishes Elite Air About Super Bowl Runner Up

The 49ers used their final pick of the 2022 draft to get Brock Purdy, also known as ‘Mr. Irrelevant.’ The team had Trey Lance, but they lost him to a broken ankle in week 2 of the 2021 season. They lost Jimmy Garoppolo to a broken foot as well. Then came Purdy, who led the team to straight wins in their final five games of the regular season as a starter. Mr. Irrelevant became quite relevant to the team. So did the Eagles see McKee as a Purdy-like strategy?

The future of McKee with the Philadelphia Eagles

Tanner McKee possesses decent arm strength, instincts, and scheme versatility. Though he might not have impressive numbers in his college career like the rest of the top QB prospects, he can still learn a lot from the like of Hurts and others available to build on his future. While he plays a style restricted to being a pocket passer, he can mold himself to reading defenses better and expanding his game of running pass options (RPOs). But he still has to make himself viable as a third QB option ahead of Book. 

In his time with the Eagles, if Tanner McKee continues to improve, the chances of him being a backup QB are there, as Mariota is on a one-year deal. But at the moment, it is all about how things shape up for him and the Eagles in another fresh season of the league.

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