In a move that sent ripples through the NFL on Sunday morning, the Philadelphia Eagles made a bold play to shore up their quarterback room, trading for Sam Howell from the Minnesota Vikings just weeks before the 2025 regular season kicks off. The deal, which sees Howell and a 2026 sixth-round pick head to Philly in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick, signals the Eagles’ urgency to address lingering uncertainties at the quarterback position as they gear up for a critical campaign.
The Eagles’ quarterback situation has been a topic of intrigue this offseason. While Jalen Hurts remains firmly entrenched as the starter, the depth behind him has been anything but certain. The team made headlines earlier this year by trading for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and drafting Ohio State standout Kyle McCord, but it’s 2023 second-round pick Tanner McKee who has emerged as the frontrunner for the primary backup role. McKee’s rapid rise has been a bright spot, but a recent finger injury has cast doubt on his availability for the Eagles’ Week 1 showdown against the Dallas Cowboys, leaving the team scrambling for reliable options.
Enter Sam Howell, the former Washington Commander and Viking, whose arrival in Philadelphia could shake up the depth chart sooner than expected. Though he has yet to set foot in the City of Brotherly Love, Howell’s experience—having started 17 games in 2022 for Washington—makes him a strong candidate to step into the QB2 role if McKee’s recovery stalls. His arm talent and mobility add a dynamic layer to an Eagles offense that thrives on versatility, but his integration into the team’s system will need to be swift with the season opener looming.
Here’s a look at the Eagles’ revamped quarterback room following the trade:
Updated Eagles Quarterback Room
-
Jalen Hurts
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Sam Howell
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Tanner McKee
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Dorian Thompson-Robinson
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Kyle McCord
And the projected depth chart as the regular season approaches:
Updated Eagles Quarterback Depth Chart
|
String |
QB |
|---|---|
|
Starter |
Jalen Hurts |
|
2nd |
Sam Howell |
|
3rd |
Tanner McKee |
|
4th |
Dorian Thompson-Robinson |
|
5th |
Kyle McCord |
With the NFL’s roster cutdown deadline looming—teams must trim their rosters to 53 players by 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday—the Eagles face tough decisions in their crowded quarterback room. McKee’s injury status, combined with the presence of Thompson-Robinson and McCord, means the team could part ways with one or more signal-callers in the coming days. Howell’s arrival, however, provides insurance and a potential long-term asset, signaling that the Eagles are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for stability behind Hurts.
As Philly prepares to face the Cowboys in Week 1, the spotlight will be on how quickly Howell can adapt to his new surroundings. For now, the Eagles have delivered a clear message: the suspended sentence hanging over Jalen Hurts’ backup role has a name, and it’s Sam Howell. Whether he’s called upon to step up immediately or serves as a safety net, his presence adds intrigue to an already fascinating quarterback situation in Philadelphia.