The Philadelphia Eagles' backup quarterback position has been a nice springboard for veterans looking to keep their careers alive lately. Marcus Mariota spent one year on the job in 2023 and earned himself a nice pay raise with the Washington Commanders. Kenny Pickett did it in 2024 and now has a shot at starting for the Cleveland Browns.
And what's not to like about the job? You don't have to deal with the drama of having a starter who could be benched ahead of you, you've got a terrific coaching staff guiding the way, and you're playing for a best-in-class organization that gives you a shot at a Super Bowl ring.
Maybe that's why Pickett is still talking up what it's like to play in Philly even as OTAs get underway with his new team.
Kenny Pickett's Comments Keep Door Open for Eventual Eagles Reunion
While the Browns, like the Eagles, are getting OTAs underway to prepare for the 2025 season, Pickett said a lot about his past season, not taking the usual "I'm just focused on what's ahead of me" approach that we often hear from players at this time of year. He heaped praise on the Eagles organization.
His quotes about Philly are all glowing, saying things like "I'm extremely grateful," and, "I was just shown how it's supposed to be done." And if you think this is just polite lip-service, think again. He didn't mention his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers at all. So how does this relate to a potential Eagles reunion?
Consider that Pickett, while he hopes to earn the starting job in Cleveland, is entering the final year of his rookie contract, with a declined fifth-year option. He's in a genuine four-way competition for the Browns' starting quarterback job, and if he loses this one he'll be locked in to a search for a new job as a backup QB somewhere in 2026.
Of course, he wouldn't be the only quarterback itching to sign with the Eagles. Philly has the luxury of being such a desirable landing spot that any backup who isn't hoping to compete for a starting job will likely be interested in signing. Of course, Pickett (or any free agent) may not be needed at all.
Will the Eagles Be in the Backup QB Market Next Offseason?
The Eagles' quarterback depth chart is a really intriguing one right now:
- QB1: Jalen Hurts
- QB2: Tanner McKee
- QB3: Kyle McCord
- QB4: Dorian Thompson-Robinson
It's not exactly a line-up of marquee names behind Hurts. Certainly nobody carries the draft pedigree that Mariota or Pickett did for the last two years. But it's also a group with a huge amount of upside.
McKee was incredibly productive in his limited 2024 action, throwing for 323 yards and 4 touchdowns on 30-of-45 passing. That was against New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys backups, sure, but you can't control the competition you face. When facing backups, all a QB can do to prove themselves is dominate. And McKee did just that.
With Hurts out, Pickett and McKee both had their chances to audition for the 2025 backup role, and McKee proved himself as the superior option. But that didn't stop the Eagles from adding competition.
The Eagles drafted Kyle McCord in the sixth round (181 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft in April. That's not exactly a premium draft pick, but it's also not something to ignore entirely. Sixth-round picks are still important, and the team wouldn't waste one if they didn't genuinely think McCord was worth having in the QB room.
Thompson-Robinson, who has swapped spots with Pickett after starting his career with the Cleveland Browns, is a total wild card. A preseason darling as a rookie in 2023, he has been terrible in 15 regular season games (including five starts) with the Browns, throwing 10 interceptions with just 1 touchdown.
But like Pickett said, the Eagles know how "it's supposed to be done," and it's no secret that the Browns don't — especially when it comes to developing quarterbacks. If DTR has the potential to turn his career around, Philly is the place.
Sorry, Kenny
All that is to say, Pickett may want to keep the door open for a reunion, but it's almost certainly not going to be in the cards. Even in a situation where Pickett fails to earn a starting job with the Browns, he's still going to be a reasonably well sought-after backup. He'll earn a QB2-type contract. And the Eagles simply have too many options to be willing to pay up for Pickett.
Unfortunately for the veteran, doing things the right way sometimes means not welcoming back familiar faces.