News broke this morning that the Vikings traded QB Sam Howell and a 2026 6th round pick to the Eagles for a 2025 5th round pick and a 2027 7th round pick. The first question on everyone’s mind is why? This is a little bigger deal than you think it is.
What Does This Trade Mean?
First and foremost, it means that Tanner McKee is more hurt than the team has previously let on. McKee has turned into a high end back up that will likely be traded next offseason. In the meantime though, he was thought to be ready to step in for Jalen Hurts without too much drop-off, the kind of insurance policy that can keep playoff and Super Bowl dreams alive. Without McKee, the next best QB on the roster is Kyle McCord. The rookie has not exactly shown out in his preseason opportunities.
The gap between McKee and McCord is clearly large enough to spook the Eagles. God forbid if anything happens to Jalen Hurts in the near future, Howie Roseman does not believe McCord is anywhere near competent to take the ball.
As for the roster, this trade creates a problem. Many teams only roster 2 QBs while the Eagles are known to regularly keep 3, even if one isn’t active week-to-week. With Howell in the fold, does this mean we are keeping 4 QBs? 4 would mean that’s one less special teamer or recent draft pick making the team. If we stick at 3, that could only mean 2 things. We are either placing McKee on Injured Reserve, likely with a return designation, or McCord isn’t making the team. It really depends on the extent of the injury. That would really suck to give up on McCord so quickly, but it wouldn’t technically be any different than cutting Cameron Williams or Antwaun Powell-Ryland. It is possible that McCord sticks on the practice squad.
Roster cutdowns are on Tuesday.
Who is Sam Howell?
Howell was drafted by the Commanders after 3 years as a Tar Heel in North Carolina. His 2022 QB class is simply one of the worst ever and Howell isn’t helping that reputation. He is not very good. In 18 career starts, he has won 5 with a career 22:23 TD to INT ratio. Jesus, am I reading his stats right? He was sacked 65 times in 2023!!! Last year was spent in Seattle as the backup to Geno Smith getting into basically 1 game, going 5 for 14 for 24 yards and a pick. Bringing in Howell is a pretty bad indictment of McCord.
Howell keeps getting by on his rookie contract. Washington traded him to Seattle and Seattle traded him to Minnesota back in April for a 5th round pick swap. This means the Eagles are only on the hook for his $1.1m salary this year which may not crack the TOP 51 contracts. Basically, from a salary cap perspective, don’t worry about it.
Interestingly, the Howell trade for the Vikings opened up a spot on the roster for them to bring in a backup who the Eagles were VERY clearly not interested in: Carson Wentz.
Double interestingly, we are coming up on the anniversary of the Eagles taking the Vikings behind the woodshed in the infamous Sam Bradford trade of 2016.
Fallout
The Eagles were clearly in a bind to have to make this deal. Swapping 2 late round picks for 1 isn’t a huge deal or anything, but as any Sixers fan will tell you, giving up draft picks for nothing is bad business. When I started writing this, I was convinced that McKee was going on IR, but looking into Howell tells me that they really must not like McCord. If I were to bet, I’d say McCord is going to the practice squad and they try the QB factory again next year.
Philly Front Office 
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