Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts signed a massive extension this offseason. He clearly sits atop the quarterback depth chart in Philadelphia, but there are questions regarding the talent behind him. Let’s take a closer look at Philadelphia’s QB depth chart.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Depth Chart
- Jalen Hurts
- Marcus Mariota
- Ian Book
- Tanner McKee
Last season, Hurts took a massive step forward. While some questioned if he could be “the guy” in Philadelphia, Hurts performed above and beyond anyone’s expectations. He cemented himself as an MVP candidate and led the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII.
Yet, despite Hurts’ impressive performance, questions still remain behind him at quarterback in Philadelphia. Considering that Hurts has missed at least one game in each of his first two seasons as a full-time starter, depth is important.
MORE: Where Does Jalen Hurts Rank in the 2023 QB Power Rankings?
Last season, Hurts missed two games down the stretch of the regular season, and the Eagles’ offense struggled. Gardner Minshew tried his best to fill Hurts’ shoes, but the offense was inconsistent and basic. Philadelphia’s lack of a running threat at quarterback behind Hurts hindered their normally powerful offense.
Which is exactly why signing Marcus Mariota in free agency this offseason was a perfect move. Despite an unceremonious ending to his time with the Atlanta Falcons, Mariota is an ideal backup behind Hurts. Mariota has a limited arm, but his rushing ability will allow Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson to run a similar offense if Hurts is unavailable.
Will Marcus Mariota or Ian Book Back Up Hurts?
Marcus Mariota is clearly the better option to back up Hurts next season. Mariota offers the ideal combination of experience with rushing ability, which Philadelphia lacked with Minshew as their primary backup QB last season.
MORE: Where Does the Eagles’ Offense Rank for 2023?
After spending a full season as the third quarterback in Philadelphia, Ian Book will likely have to earn that job this year. The Eagles selected Tanner McKee in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, who offers plenty of upside as a developmental QB.
Book might have the edge due to his extra season of experience in the NFL. Yet, the Eagles are clearly intrigued by McKee and what he can bring to Philadelphia. McKee isn’t much of a rushing threat at all, but his arm is impressive, and he was held back by a weak supporting cast at Stanford.
Although Mariota has a firm grasp on the QB2 spot in Philadelphia, the battle for that final QB3 spot will be intriguing. Especially with the NFL implementing a new rule that allows a third quarterback to be active on game day without counting toward the active roster limit.