We’re only a few weeks away from the sounds of clashing pads filling the NovaCare Complex once again. As the Eagles prepare for another thrilling Training Camp, it’s time to take a look at each positional group and preview some of the biggest battles set to unfold this Summer.
There’s no better place to start than the Quarterback position. Headlined by Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, the Eagles have a very unique setup going into 2025. There’s no devout QB2, no ‘veteran clipboard holder’ for their franchise guy who no longer needs it, and instead a focus on developing potential backups down in the quarterback factory.
But with two young and hungry signal-callers vying to prove their worth behind a more experienced backup who’s yet to reach his full potential, the race for Jalen’s backup is wide open.
Your Eagles quarterbacks in 2025
Jalen Hurts
Maybe ESP’s quarterback stat-tracking meant something after all. Jalen Hurts was absolutely surgical during the Summer of 2024 and went on to post a very impressive season that culminated in a Lombardi Trophy.
To me, Hurts really changed his throwing mechanics last year. His balls over the middle had more zip, but felt intently placed at the abdomen of his receivers as opposed to in a spot where a DB could make a play on the ball. Whether this is by design or simply a coincidence, he posted just 5 interceptions in 2024, the fewest since 2020.
I don’t think we’re in a spot where we need to over-analyze the QB play of someone as decorated as Hurts anymore. However, spotting these kind of subtle tweaks early can often be telling of what he’s looking to improve. We know that Hurts is a workhorse and someone that has gone above and beyond to seek out help in off-seasons past, such as his drive to work with QB guru Tom House a few years ago.
There’s no big storyline to watch when it comes to the face of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jalen Hurts, but maybe that will open the doors to take a closer look at his mechanics and footwork to see if there have been any more additions to his repertoire over the Summer.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
The new addition to the Philadelphia signal-caller room in 2025, DTR is a dual-threat QB who started 5 games for Cleveland during his stint with the Browns, completing 121 of 230 passes for 880 yards, 10 picks, a score, adding 187 yards on the ground. If there is ever a quarterback who can help DTR cut down on those pesky picks, it’s Jalen Hurts.
While he’s been in the league for the same amount of time as Tanner McKee, DTR’s starting experience does give him an edge over the other players in the room.
This is also a player who has links to Jalen Hurts (through a Chess mentor) and played Tanner McKee back in his PAC-12 days. That familiarity is only going to strengthen the bonds at the position and make learning a lot easier. It’s unclear if Thompson-Robinson is going to be the favorite for the QB2 spot, or if the trio of young arms will be all be trying to sap up as much information as possible from Jalen in order to further their own bid.
With that said, Thompson-Robinson is in a unique spot where he’s young enough to still improve significantly, and has some starting experience under his belt at the NFL level, making him an intriguing player to bring in to the QB room.
Tanner McKee
It hasn’t taken McKee long to develop into a fan-favorite. The Stanford graduate has attacked both preseasons so far with a real sense of tenacity. Unafraid to let it rip, McKee’s gunslinger mentality was valuable against the Giants late in the 2024 season when he threw for 2 touchdowns and 269 yards.
The Eagles might not have seen enough just yet to make him Jalen’s exclusive backup, but the jump from year one to year two was certainly impressive.
A positional battle against DTR will absolutely bring the best out of both players and give McKee a good barometer in terms of where he’s at. Is he ready to be relied on as a full-time QB2, or does he need another year or two under the tutelage of Jalen and a new quarterback coach? We’ll get closer to finding that answer when Camp begins, but make no mistake, McKee’s impressive arm and improved ability to process reads and coverages have him sat in a pretty strong spot going into his third Training Camp.
Kyle McCord
The rookie comes into the fray with an expectation to simply learn from those above him on the depth chart. McCord is seen by many as a ‘value pick’ and while he throws an incredibly pretty spiral, his footwork and pocket presence will need a lot of work before he’s at the level of those above him.
The fundamentals are there. He’s got the size, arm-strength, and array of throws needed to develop into an NFL caliber quarterback. But working on stepping into throws, staying light in the pocket, and sensing pressure earlier, will all have to be prioritized this season.
A wildcard storyline for Eagles QB’s
The Eagles have a new quarterback coach entering the arena in 2025. Scott Loeffler, who spent his last six years at Bowling Green, joins the Eagles to replace Doug Nussmeier. Interestingly, Loeffler was the collegiate QB coach of none other than Tom Brady and someone who is reportedly still close to the legendary quarterback.
As aforementioned, we know that Hurts sought out help from Tom House a few years ago, a coach who also helped Brady over the years. Again, this could be coincidental, but I can’t imagine so. Jalen Hurts clearly wants to learn from the right people, and that information will only trickle down to younger players who will benefit greatly from it too.
It will be interesting to see what kind of drills Loeffler implements and how the rapport between the quarterbacks changes over Camp.
What to watch
The main focus for me is going to be how Tanner McKee looks in comparison to DTR. This is likely the QB2 battle barring a late signing, so it’s imperative that both players hit the ground running. They’re different in terms of style, and while DTR has more games under his belt, McKee has arguably the better track record and of course experience in this offense.
For Kyle McCord, I just want to see how his fundamentals improve over the preseason games. Is he able to climb the ladder in the pocket? Can he avoid taking avoidable sacks? If he can begin to find his feet inside an NFL pocket, the rest should start coming to him pretty quickly.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
