Tuesday, November 3, 2026
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With another embarrassing loss in primetime against an NFC East foe, the Philadelphia Eagles’path to a division title or even a playoff berth is all but closed.
At 2-6 and riding a six-game losing streak for the first time since 2012, the Eagles are more likely to become sellers over the next week and a half with the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaching.
With the season slipping away, the organization should also consider taking a different approach at quarterback.
Through three starts, Tanner McKee has struggled, including Sunday night against one of the lesser defensive units in the league. He went 23-of-34 passing for 212 yards with no touchdowns, one interception and a 72.2 passer rating.
Not all the offensive woes land on the shoulders of the fourth-year backup, who appears to be in a position where he cannot overcome the deficiencies around him.
The offensive line continues to miss basic blocking assignments. His top receiving targets have included a first-round rookie who is best suited in the slot, an undrafted free agent from Tarleton State and a 31-year-old tight end.
Meanwhile, the rushing attack is compromised due to Saquon Barkley valiantly trying to gut through his injuries over the last two games. His backup, Elijah Mitchell, is a practice squad signee who is the sixth running back on the depth chart and played a large role in the backfield Sunday night.
Still, McKee hasn’t helped his own case. Once praised for being an accurate pocket-passing quarterback, he has been inconsistent with ball placement. He has delivered passes behind his receivers and has overthrown running backs in the flat. His inability to avoid pressure also limits his ceiling, particularly behind this struggling offensive line.
In his three starts, he has thrown for 638 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions with a 63.2% completion percentage.
The Eagles are 0-3 in those games.
With the season lost and McKee set to be a free agent at the end of the season, now is the time for the Eagles to see what they have in the two backups behind him in Joe Milton III and Cole Payton.
Nick Sirianni isn’t one to make in-game changes at a position unless injuries force his hand. Yet, near the end of the game, when it was evident the Eagles were not coming back, Milton getting a few drives would have been justifiable to see what he could bring to the offense.
Moving forward, Sirianni and the front office should seriously consider giving Milton a crack at the starting job to determine if he could become a more reliable backup option for the future.
There are some similarities between McKee and Milton. The latter is essentially the same height as McKee at 6-foot-5 and both are 26 years old. The two also were drafted in similar spots in back-to-back drafts. McKee was a sixth-round pick in 2022(188th overall), while Milton was also a sixth-round pick a year later (193rd overall).
Where Milton differentiates himself is with his overall athletic ability and physical tools, which caught the attention of pro scouts and fans alike.
Armed with a cannon for an arm, Milton demonstrated throughout his college career at Michigan and Tennessee that he could make throws few quarterbacks could make.
He also displayed an ability to extend plays out of the pocket, whether delivering throws on the run or using his athleticism to pick up yards with his legs.
While having a big arm is a valuable tool, one of the knocks on Milton is the lack of accuracy he has at times.
Utilizing Milton’s athleticism to be more of a dual threat under center gives the Eagles a better chance of turning many of the broken-down blocking assignments into positive plays rather than allowing those breakdowns to derail entire drives.
Originally with Dallas, Milton was cut from the practice squad ahead of roster trimming, despite arguably having his best preseason as a professional. The move left beat writers and Cowboys fans questioning the decision. The Eagles poached him from their division rival’s practice squad two weeks ago. He is now is on his third team in three years, raising some questions about how other teams view his long-term potential.
Regardless, Philadelphia has little to lose by finding out whether Milton can develop into a serviceable option moving forward.
Unlike Milton, the Eagles invested draft capital in Payton, clutching to their fifth-round pick in this year’s draft all season long.
Philadelphia kept him on the active roster throughout the offseason rather than exposing him to waivers, ultimately opening the season with four quarterbacks, a move that came as a surprise.
The North Dakota State product is a true, dual-threat quarterback who put up videogame-like numbers in his final season with the Bison at the FCS level throwing for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns to just four interceptions while also rushing for 777 yards and 13 scores.
Payton was viewed as the best player available when the Eagles selected him, with Howie Roseman confirming that he and his staff wanted to stick to that draft philosophy despite already having three quarterbacks on the roster. Roseman has made it clear that he values the quarterback position and believes having what he feels is quality depth is vital for the team’s roster construction.
With similarities to former New Orleans Saints versatile quarterback Taysom Hill, Payton presents an intriguing option for the Eagles’ offensive gameplan. Some of the best offenses the Eagles have had over the years incorporated a quarterback who has the ability to run and make plays with his legs.
The biggest question for Payton remains: Can his style of play translate to the NFL?
Both backups have plenty of questions surrounding them, but that's exactly why the Eagles need to give them an opportunity. With their playoff hopes all but gone, Philadelphia has little left to gain by continuing down the same path. It's time to find out whether Milton or Payton can be part of the team's future rather than entering what figures to be a tense offseason with more questions than answers.
MORE: The Eagles have a defensive problem flying under the radar
