One of the biggest storylines entering the 2025-26 NFL regular season has been the Indianapolis Colts’ shocking decision to name Daniel Jones their starting quarterback over Anthony Richardson.
All offseason, the conversation centered around Richardson taking the next step and cementing his role as the face of the franchise. Instead, Jones arrived, looked sharp in camp, and did enough to convince the coaching staff that he gives the Colts the best chance to win right now. This leaves Richardson in limbo, and his future with the team suddenly feels uncertain.
Why Are the Colts Already Linked to Another Quarterback?
But here’s where things get even more interesting: there’s already talk that the Colts might not be done making moves at the quarterback position. According to Bleacher Report, Indianapolis could make a bold move by trading for Philadelphia Eagles backup Tanner McKee.
“If Philadelphia wants to remain on top, it will need to continue to load up on picks,” Bleacher Report noted. “The team added to its arsenal by trading backup quarterback Kenny Pickett at the start of the offseason and could land 2026 draft selections by again sending off one of Jalen Hurts’ understudies.”
Here’s 2:22 of Tanner McKee absolutely cooking the Bengals’ starting defense.
20/25
253 total yards
3 total TDs
135.3 passer rating pic.twitter.com/ggj4WoJxBu— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeeg_) August 8, 2025
The question then becomes, why McKee? The Eagles don’t necessarily need him. They already have a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Jalen Hurts, who is locked into a long-term contract as one of the league’s top players.
Meanwhile, in two games in the 2024 season, McKee completed 30 of his 45 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns. With a performance like that, you have to wonder if he could succeed in a more significant role, and the Colts could be an ideal fit.
What Would a Tanner McKee Trade Mean for Both Teams?
For Indianapolis, the logic is clear. Although Jones is the starter, concerns remain about his consistency and long-term durability. Richardson, on the other hand, hasn’t yet fulfilled the organization’s expectations, and the front office doesn’t want to be caught unprepared if things go wrong again. McKee, who is only 25 years old, would provide a new burst of energy and potential that could entice a team to part with significant draft capital.
On the flip side, the Philadelphia Eagles stand to benefit as well. General manager Howie Roseman has built a reputation for stockpiling picks and always thinking two steps ahead. With Hurts cemented as the face of the franchise, there’s no reason to hold onto McKee when they could potentially flip him for a valuable draft pick and reload for the future.
For Colts fans, however, this all circles back to the bigger question: who is the quarterback of the future? The team has shuffled through options for years, from Philip Rivers to Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan, but stability has remained elusive. Now, with Jones under center and the possibility of McKee joining the roster, Indianapolis is once again rolling the dice and hoping it finally lands on the right number.
