Few would argue that the Philadelphia Eagles have built one of the NFL’s best and deepest quarterback rooms.
Led by reigning Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, there’s Tanner McKee, who solidified his standing as Hurts’ primary backup after another impressive preseason, highlighted by a standout performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in which he threw for 252 yards and three total touchdowns.
Behind McKee is Sam Howell, who Philadelphia acquired in a late-August trade with the Minnesota Vikings. The addition of Howell was one of the more intriguing moves of the summer, and it left Philly fully-stocked at QB. Thus, it’s not hard to see why other teams might be interested in that kind of talent.
According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, one team discussed a potential trade for Howell in particular.
Report: Cincinnati Bengals Considered a Trade for QB Sam Howell
“When Joe Burrow got hurt, the Bengals truly did believe that Jake Browning would be a capable fill-in and play better than he has over the past four games. They weren’t intending to trade for a quarterback,” Graziano wrote on October 8, adding:
“But after a third straight loss, they spent Sunday and Monday calling around to pretty much any team that had more than two quarterbacks on its roster. I’m told that neither of the Giants veterans — Russell Wilson or Jameis Winston — were ever real possibilities, nor was Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins. There was some chatter about Drew Lock in Seattle, Sam Howell in Philadelphia — guys like that. But teams aren’t eager to trade from their QB depth.”
It’s easy to see why the Bengals might be interested. Howell carries a modest cap hit of roughly $1.1 million, and he has 18 starts under his belt. He also threw for just under 4,000 yards in 2023, despite tossing 21 TDs and 21 interceptions.
But for as much sense as it might make for other teams to inquire, Philadelphia has plenty of reasons to keep its QBs room intact. The Eagles are legitimate championship contenders again this year, and they’ve structured Hurts’ massive contract so his 2025 cap hit remains manageable. That financial flexibility allows them to keep premium depth behind their franchise QB — something they know could become critical if Hurts would have to miss time.
Eagles QBs Room Sitting Pretty in 2025
Howell’s designation as Philly’s weekly emergency third quarterback shows how good GM Howie Roseman is at roster building. It also shows how serious the team takes the most important position in sports. One injury to Hurts would make McKee a heartbeat away from starting, and a second injury would bring Howell to the fray. Think about that: Howell is arguably good enough to start for a few NFL teams right now, and he’s the Eagles’ QB3.
At the end of the day, Philadelphia’s quarterback situation is as stable –and as enviable — as any in the NFL. Teams like the Bengals may call, and the offers may well be tempting. But unless a desperate squad makes an offer Roseman can’t refuse, the Eagles will almost certainly keep McKee and Howell right where they are.