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The Eagles are sitting on top of the NFL mountain after crushing the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. Jalen Hurts has his MVP trophy, Nick Sirianni’s now considered elite among NFL coaches, and GM Howie Roseman keeps making other front offices look silly with his roster moves. But even champions need to shore up their weak spots.
The salary cap forced Philly to make some painful roster decisions this offseason. They managed to keep Saquon Barkley and Zack Baun – two critical pieces – while also hitting another home run in the draft. First-rounder Jihaad Campbell should step right in and boost their linebacker corps immediately.
But who’s backing up Hurts?
After shipping Kenny Pickett out of town, the Eagles are looking at three questionable options: Tanner McKee (who’s been with the team for a couple years), sixth-round rookie Kyle McCord from Syracuse, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (picked up in the Cleveland trade). McKee’s probably got the inside track for QB2, with McCord likely sticking around as the emergency option. DTR? He’s probably cleaning out his locker before September unless something dramatic happens in training camp.
Let’s be honest – none of these guys inspire much confidence if Hurts misses time. The Eagles might want to bring in someone familiar who’s actually won NFL games before.
Why Not Give Carson Wentz Another Shot in Philly?
Remember when Carson Wentz was supposed to be the franchise savior? In just his second year, the No. 2 overall pick threw for 3,296 yards and 31 TDs, made the Pro Bowl, and finished third in MVP voting. Then came that devastating knee injury late in 2017, Nick Foles stepped in, the “Philly Special” happened, and suddenly the backup was hoisting both the Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl MVP hardware. Wentz’s future instantly became… complicated.
He put up decent numbers the following season and started three more years in Philly until Jalen Hurts took the job in Week 13 of 2020. The Eagles struck gold with their second-round pick, developing Hurts from capable starter to Pro Bowler to Super Bowl MVP.
Hurts isn’t going anywhere. He’s not putting up video game numbers, but his dual-threat ability and unshakable composure in big moments make him the perfect quarterback for this team. Still, every championship contender needs a reliable backup – and Wentz, despite his flaws, can still deliver wins when called upon.
Wentz Can Still Keep a Championship Team Afloat
Pickett was serviceable as a backup, but Wentz offers a much higher ceiling. It’s been a strange journey for the 32-year-old, who spent last season holding a clipboard behind Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. In a cruel twist, he watched from the Chiefs’ sideline as his former team won another Super Bowl without him. Wouldn’t it be fitting if Wentz could finally be part of another Eagles championship? Philadelphia remains the betting favorite to win it all again in 2026.
Is he too erratic to be a full-time starter? Absolutely. But it’s shocking he’s still unemployed this deep into the offseason. His last extended action came with Washington in 2022 – 1,755 yards, 11 TDs and 9 interceptions in seven starts. The turnover problems are real, but his powerful arm combined with Philly’s offensive system could minimize his weaknesses. He knows the organization, could run the offense competently, and – most importantly – could keep the Eagles competitive if Hurts goes down.
That’s all you really need from a backup QB.
Maybe there’s too much bad blood after his messy exit. Maybe the Eagles want to avoid any potential distraction. But if there’s even slight concern about McKee or McCord stepping in during a championship season, it’s worth making the call to Wentz and bringing him to camp. Let him compete for the job and see what happens.
What’s the downside for a team chasing back-to-back titles?
