It's time to add yet another layer to the Pittsburgh Steelers' convoluted quarterback situation.
In an unexpected move, the Philadelphia Eagles traded a seventh-round draft pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. It's not exactly league-shaking news, but it could mean that current Eagles backup QB Tanner McKee is readily available.
Instead of waiting on Aaron Rodgers, trying their hand with Will Howard, or trotting Mason Rudolph out again, the Steelers could pull off a cheap trade to make McKee their starting signal caller for 2026.
Pittsburgh Steelers have a clear path to trading for Tanner McKee after Eagles' Andy Dalton move
At this point in the calendar, none of the Steelers' options at quarterback are particularly exciting. Running it back with Rodgers may seem like the most likely answer, but fans have already seen how limited the 42-year-old is at this point in his career.
Howard has plenty of supporters in Pittsburgh, but he hasn't done much in the NFL to warrant confidence in his ability as a starter. Even Rudolph has been capable in short stints, but he's not going to suddenly turn into a franchise quarterback.
McKee offers a different, and potentially better, route. The former sixth-round pick has appeared in just six games for the Eagles over the last two years and hasn't eclipsed 100 pass attempts in the NFL. But in that limited sample size, he has shown flashes of talent that have teams around the league intrigued. He's seen as one of the top backup QBs in football, and many think he could handle a starting job.
The 25-year-old has a prototypical frame with solid arm talent. His inconsistent decision-making and poor mechanics caused him to fall in the 2023 NFL Draft, but his more recent tape suggests that some of those issues may have been fixed.
McKee is far from perfect, but the Steelers don't have a perfect option available to them at the moment. If they can pull off a trade for the young QB without giving up major draft capital, it could be worth the risk. In the worst possible scenario, he loses a position battle to Rudolph or Howard and spends the season on the Steelers' bench. But there's a chance, however small it may be, that he could turn into a capable starter in Pittsburgh, helping Mike McCarthy to pull this team into a new era.