The New Orleans Saints find themselves in a precarious position as uncertainty clouds the future of starting quarterback Derek Carr. The veteran signal-caller is reportedly considering season-ending shoulder surgery, leaving a gaping hole in the Saints’ offense and a major headache for first-year head coach Kellen Moore. With limited options on the current roster, speculation is mounting that the Saints could make a move to acquire a familiar face: Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Tanner McKee.

Moore, who just months ago was celebrating a Super Bowl victory as the offensive coordinator of the Eagles, is now tasked with steadying a ship that may lose its captain before the season even kicks off. Carr’s potential absence has thrust the likes of Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and Ben DiNucci into the spotlight — not exactly a trio that inspires confidence in a playoff-bound run. That’s where McKee enters the conversation.

Sports Illustrated’s Ed Kracz believes that a reunion between Moore and McKee could be mutually beneficial. “Perhaps the Eagles can help an old friend out,” Kracz wrote on April 13, referring to Moore’s familiarity with Philadelphia’s quarterback room. “Trade Tanner McKee. He is better than what the Saints have, and Moore knows him better than what he inherited.”

McKee’s résumé, while brief, offers glimmers of promise. During limited appearances with the Eagles, he completed nearly 67% of his passes and threw four touchdowns without a single interception. Those numbers — albeit from a small sample — suggest that McKee may be ready for a larger role. His poise, decision-making, and experience in Moore’s system could make him a plug-and-play candidate for New Orleans should the Carr situation deteriorate further.

Moreover, McKee’s understanding of Moore’s offensive scheme might provide the Saints with a seamless transition — a rare commodity when plugging in a new quarterback late in the offseason. With playbooks already being installed and timing becoming critical, familiarity can often trump raw talent. If Moore believes in McKee, the young quarterback could very well get his shot at becoming a starter in the NFL.

On the other hand, the Eagles have their own quarterback situation to consider. McKee’s departure would leave newly acquired Dorian Thompson-Robinson (DTR) as the primary backup to Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts. While DTR brings an exciting dual-threat dimension to the Eagles’ offense, his performance in the NFL thus far has been inconsistent.

Originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2023, Thompson-Robinson showed flashes of brilliance at UCLA, where he was a five-year starter. However, his transition to the pros hasn’t been seamless. In 15 games with five starts, DTR completed just over 52% of his passes for 880 yards, one touchdown, and a staggering 10 interceptions. Despite those numbers, the Eagles saw enough potential to bring him in as part of a trade that also netted them a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Since arriving in Philadelphia, DTR has made it clear that he’s eager to contribute and learn under Hurts. Their shared passion for chess, oddly enough, has been mentioned as a symbol of the cerebral connection they hope to build — but whether that translates to chemistry on the field remains an open question.

For the Eagles, trading McKee could free up draft capital or roster flexibility, especially with Hurts entrenched as the undisputed starter. However, it would also mean putting considerable trust in DTR, or perhaps another yet-unknown addition, to step in if Hurts were to miss time.

“It would be difficult to part with him,” Kracz acknowledged of McKee. “But he’s a luxury the Eagles may want to consider parting ways with if the compensation is right.”

The stakes are high for both franchises. For the Saints, acquiring McKee could stabilize their quarterback room and provide an opportunity for a talented young player to grow in a familiar system. For the Eagles, it’s a delicate balance between maximizing asset value and ensuring depth at the league’s most critical position.

As the offseason unfolds and teams solidify their rosters, the McKee-to-New-Orleans rumors are likely to intensify. Whether it materializes into a trade remains to be seen, but the conversation underscores just how volatile and important quarterback depth has become in today’s NFL. Fans in both Philadelphia and New Orleans would do well to keep their eyes on this developing situation — it could shape the fortunes of two franchises in very different ways.