Eagles Recent Additions Could Provide Trade Insurance
While the initial wave of free agency is over, the Philadelphia Eagles continue to make moves. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made two notable additions this week as Philadelphia’s offensive overhaul is well underway. Yet Philadelphia’s recent moves could tease what is coming next in the City of Brotherly Love.
The Eagles officially signed veteran wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to a one-year deal, worth up to $6.5 million on Tuesday. But that wasn’t Roseman’s only move on offense this week. Philadelphia reportedly traded with the Carolina Panthers for 38-year-old quarterback Andy Dalton on Wednesday.
Philadelphia’s recent additions didn’t involve blockbuster names, by any means. Yet the Eagles could be hinting at their future plans with both moves. Here are my thoughts on both additions.
Could Hollywood Help Replace Another Star?
The Eagles are dealing with an interesting situation at wide receiver this offseason. While A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have formed one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL, the former’s future is uncertain. The Eagles have reportedly entertained trade talks for Brown this offseason and it seems like a deal could happen eventually, especially after June 1st.
Philadelphia also saw the team’s former WR3, Jahan Dotson, sign a two-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Given the uncertainty at the position, the Eagles had to make a move in free agency. Therefore, Roseman opted to sign Hollywood Brown to a one-year, low-risk deal that includes incentives.
While some are talking about Brown as a fit alongside Philadelphia’s dynamic duo, my guess is that he’ll also serve as insurance if he’s the last Brown standing in the team’s wide receiver room in June. In recent years, Hollywood hasn’t been quite the player that he was earlier in his NFL career. Yet he enjoyed a bounce back season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025.
Brown had 49 receptions for 587 yards and five touchdowns in six starts last season. If he’s called upon to play a bigger role than many anticipate in Philadelphia, the Eagles are clearly confident that he can do so. He brings a wealth of experience to Philadelphia’s wide receiver room that Johnny Wilson and Darius Cooper wouldn’t be able to provide.
If the Eagles eventually trade A.J. Brown, they could feel a bit more at ease doing so knowing that Smith isn’t the only other proven veteran wide receiver in Philadelphia. A trio of Smith, Hollywood and a rookie that is drafted during the first two days of the 2026 NFL Draft could potentially work well together.
New QB2 in Philadelphia?
Howie Roseman has developed an addiction to trading backup quarterbacks in recent years. Since 2021, the Eagles have now made six trades involving quarterbacks. Philadelphia’s latest move was trading a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Panthers for veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.
Dalton is 38-years old and is entering the final year of a two-year, $8 million deal that he signed with Carolina last offseason. He brings a wealth of experience to Philadelphia’s quarterback room with 173 career starts. Yet his arrival could signal the end of Tanner McKee’s tenure in the City of Brotherly Love.
Dalton is set to make $4 million in 2026, which is far more than any team would ideally want to spend on their third-string quarterback. McKee was already gaining steam as a potential trade candidate and the addition of Dalton could only heighten those rumors.
The soon-to-be 26-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie contract and could garner interest from a quarterback-needy team. While many teams have already found their next quarterback, teams such as the Arizona Cardinals or Cleveland Browns could make sense as potential landing spots for McKee.
It’s also worth noting that the Eagles are installing a new offense, led by first-time offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. While Dalton hasn’t worked directly with Mannion, he does have some experience working with coaches that have implemented similar schemes. McKee doesn’t exactly offer that same experience as Dalton, who could serve as a connecting voice in the quarterback room.
While McKee is only set to make $1.2 million in 2026 and it wouldn’t be cost-prohibitive to keep him around, it feels like another team should be able to pry him from the Eagles. Philadelphia could then opt to find their next McKee in another day three quarterback and have them sit behind Jalen Hurts and Dalton next season.
In the end, there’s a chance that both A.J. Brown and Tanner McKee will be on the Eagles next season. Yet two of Philadelphia’s recent additions will certainly help keep the door open for any potential trades this offseason.