Eagles Hurts May Have Long-Term Backup in Place

Yahoo

20-05-2025

The Philadelphia Eagles made a subtle yet strategic move by selecting quarterback Kyle McCord in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Though the former Syracuse standout won't be challenging Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts for the starting job anytime soon, his selection reveals a calculated long-term vision for the Eagles' quarterback room.
As training camp approaches, the Eagles' quarterback depth chart appears largely settled. Hurts remains entrenched as the franchise cornerstone, while second-year signal-caller Tanner McKee has seemingly solidified his position as the primary backup after impressing coaches during limited opportunities last season.
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For McCord, this means a rookie campaign likely spent competing with recently acquired Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the third quarterback spot – a position that saw limited action under the NFL's emergency quarterback rules introduced in 2023.
Despite his sixth-round draft position (181st overall), McCord's collegiate resume suggests a player with untapped potential. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound quarterback took a unique path through college football's elite programs, transferring to Syracuse after starting for Ohio State in 2023.
The move to the Orange proved transformative, as McCord erupted for an ACC-record 4,779 passing yards in his lone season at Syracuse, earning All-ACC honors to complement his previous All-Big Ten selection with the Buckeyes. His distribution skills were particularly impressive, with four Syracuse receivers finishing the season with over 60 catches each.
Perhaps most intriguing about McCord's arrival in Philadelphia is his deep-rooted connection to newly hired quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler. Their relationship dates back nearly a decade, when Loeffler – then Boston College's offensive coordinator – offered McCord his first scholarship while the quarterback was still in eighth grade. McCord played high school ball at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia before his college journey, making this something of a homecoming.
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Loeffler, hired in February after four seasons as Bowling Green's head coach, brings continuity to a coaching position that saw turnover when previous quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier departed to become offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. While Eagles fans shouldn't expect to see McCord taking meaningful snaps in 2025, his selection fits a pattern of shrewd quarterback management employed by general manager Howie Roseman.
McKee has shown enough potential that he'll likely command significant money as a backup when his rookie deal expires. By drafting McCord now, the Eagles ensure they'll have a developed, cost-controlled backup ready when that time comes. It's a strategy that has paid dividends for Philadelphia before.
The team famously drafted and developed backup quarterbacks like A.J. Feeley, Kevin Kolb, and Nick Foles – all of whom either contributed significantly on the field or returned valuable draft capital in trades.
For now, McCord will focus on absorbing the Eagles' offensive system while refining his mechanics under Loeffler's guidance. Philadelphia's quarterback room, featuring a superstar starter in Hurts and promising young talent in McKee, Thompson-Robinson, and now McCord, ranks among the league's deepest.
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The sixth-round selection may have flown under the radar on draft weekend, but for an organization with Philadelphia's track record of quarterback development, McCord represents another carefully placed piece in their long-term roster construction strategy.
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