The Eagles Next Backup Quarterback Should Be This Guy

Ever since Andy Reid became the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999, the organization has put a priority on who the backup Quarterback will be each season. No organization has maximized the value of the Backup QB position than the Eagles.
Just think about the lineage of backup Quarterbacks who have worn an Eagles uniform:

-In 1999, Doug Pederson started the season and mentored the rookie Donovan McNabb

-After going 4-1 as the starter at Quarterback for the Eagles in 2002, A.J. Feeley was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a second-round draft pick.

-Jeff Garcia saved the 2006 Eagles season with 10 Touchdowns and five regular season wins on his way to leading Philadelphia to a postseason win over the New York Giants before losing a close game to the New Orleans Saints.

-Kevin Kolb had a 3-4 record as a starting Quarterback for the Eagles before he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for a 2nd round draft pick and Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

-There are two chapters to the Legend of Nick Foles. In 2013, the Eagles began the season 2-3 before Foles threw 24 of his 27 Touchdowns in the final 11 games that season. Then no Philadelphia sports fan will forget 2017 when Nick Foles came in again as the backup Quarterback, filling in for a starter and helping the Eagles win the Super Bowl.

-Despite a miserable 2020 season, the Eagles got their first look at Jalen Hurts, who was a rookie that season. Many people questioned why Philadelphia drafted a Quarterback in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft when they had signed Carson Wentz to a major contract. But Hurts showed enough in those four starts that paved the road to him becoming the starting Quarterback.

Who Should Be The Eagles Next Backup Quarterback

So as we look ahead to the 2024 NFL season, the only Quarterbacks under contract for the Eagles are starter Jalen Hurts and third-string development project Tanner McKee. Philadelphia lost their last two backup Quarterbacks in Free Agency: Gardner Minshew leading for the Indianapolis Colts after the 2022 season and Marcus Mariota signed with the Washington Commanders after the 2023 season.

Philadelphia needs a good backup Quarterback who can proficiently run the offense in case Jalen Hurts gets injured. There has already been plenty of Quarterback movement this offseason so Philadelphia's options are not necessarily plentiful. But there is one veteran Quarterback available in Free Agency who has over 150 games started in the NFL and who is also a mobile QB.

That guy is Ryan Tannehill. The former Dolphins and Titans starting Quarterback has played for eight different Offensive Coordinators so he has plenty of familiarity with a variety of NFL Offenses. Also, Tannehill is a former College Wide Receiver and has rushed for 708 Yards along with 17 Rushing Touchdowns in the last four seasons.

Even though Tannehill has regressed as a Quarterback since his last quality season as a starting NFL Quarterback in 2021, he still has the ability to help a team win games. In his last 22 games played over the previous two seasons, Tannehill has 4,152 Passing Yards and a 65.05 Completion Percentage.

One of the reasons Tannehill has regressed as a Quarterback is the Titans' Pass Protection also regressed over the last three years.  Tannehill was sacked 117 times in the last 37 games, which is a lot for any NFL Quarterback, let alone a player in his mid-30's who may not be able to recover as quickly physically as he used to when he was younger.

There are other Quarterbacks available that other people like for the Eagles Backup Quarterback position, but I have concerns about:

-Tyler Huntley is a popular potential backup Quarterback because he is a great athlete and was a solid fill-in for the Ravens when Lamar Jackson got injured in recent years. But his Touchdown-to-Interception Ratio is mediocre (8 TDs to 7 INTs in 20 games played and Nine Starts). Those numbers combined with watching how underwhelming Huntley looked in some of his starts for Baltimore makes me wonder if he is really the best option for Philadelphia.

-Easton Stick was the backup Quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers last season when current Eagles Offensive Coordinator Kelen Moore was coaching there. But his familiarity with Moore's offense doesn't excuse the reality that he has below-average passing talent for the NFL level. Stick was the Quarterback who started at North Dakota State after Carson Wentz's era and before Trey Lance's incredible season. Both Lance and Wentz had elite passing statistics compared to Stick, who was a better running Quarterback compared to the other two NDSU alumni. Philadelphia doesn't need a backup QB whose best skill is running around, no thank you.

-Jimmy Garoppolo (63 NFL starts) and Trevor Siemen (33 NFL Starts) both have extensive NFL experience. While each Quarterback has Super Bowl rings thanks to being on the sidelines while future Hall of Famers played in the big game, I am not comfortable with either player coming into a game if Jalen Hurts gets injured. Garappolo has regressed without Kyle Shanahan as his Offensive Player caller and Trevor Sieman was difficult to watch in his three starts for the New York Jets last year.

If something unfortunate happens to Jalen Hurts during the 2024 season, I do not want to feel like the game or season is already lost with the backup Quarterback coming into the game. Tannehill is the most competent veteran Quarterback available and has extensive experience in different offenses that the Kellen Moore play calling should be simple enough for him to assimilate.

Eagles Legend Jason Kelce snapped the ball numerous Eagles Quarterbacks from Michael Vick to Nick Foles to Carson Wentz to Jalen Hurts.  Take a look at the evolution of the future Hall of Famer from when he was drafted by Philadelphia to his final season in an Eagles uniform: