This offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles signed quarterback Marcus Mariota to a one-year, $5 million contract, and he’ll almost certainly be seeking for a new team when the Eagles’ season concludes.
Tanner McKee, the Eagles’ sixth-round pick in 2023, will be on the roster, but adding an experienced vet to back up Jalen Hurts sounds like a decent option. Presenting current New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder believes the Eagles should consider Taylor to fill Mariota’s shoes when the 2024 offseason arrives.
“Marcus Mariota is an impending free agent, and current third-stringer Tanner McKee would need almost an entirely new playbook if he were called into action, as McKee and Jalen Hurts have very different skill sets,” Holder said in a blog post on November 6.
Having a good backup to handle the offence is critical for any NFL club, especially one that wins as much as the Eagles (who are now 8-1).
Is Tyrod Taylor an Upgrade Over Marcus Mariota?
Although it is unclear whether Taylor has more promise than Mariota, when healthy, Taylor can still make plays, as seen in the above video provided on X by NFL analyst Robert Schmitz.
“Taylor has proven to be a quality backup over the years and wouldn’t rock the boat in Philadelphia’s offence that much if Hurts went down,” Holder said in a statement. “The long-tenured veteran would give the team a better chance to win than the 2023 sixth-round pick in an emergency situation.”
Mariota, 30, is younger than Taylor, 34, and their career numbers are nearly identical.
Mariota has appeared in 87 games, while Taylor has appeared in 88. Taylor has a career completion rate of 61.6%. Mariota has performed slightly better (62.6%). Mariota has more touchdowns than Taylor (92 to 62), but Taylor has less interceptions (26 to Mariota’s 54). Taylor is also the better running quarterback, with 19 rushing touchdowns to Mariota’s 17.
Taylor is now on injured reserve in the final year of his two-year, $11 million contract with the Giants. The Giants quarterback suffered rib injuries in Week 8 against the New York Jets. He was taken to the ground by Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley after catching his own deflected ball.
Taylor’s 13-year career has been marred by injuries, but the veteran signal-caller, who was named to the Pro Bowl with the Buffalo Bills in 2015, is still a strong backup.
Eagles QB Tanner McKee Should Improve in Year 2
McKee showed considerable promise during the preseason in 2023, but he has yet to appear in a regular season game. He’ll most certainly improve after a full year in Philly’s scheme, but whether he’ll be able to handle the QB2 role in Year 2 is a legitimate concern.
McKee completed 54.2% of his throws for 453 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions in three preseason games (PFF numbers). He dropped nine passes, contributing to his lower completion %. He’s a quality young quarterback whose development will be worth watching.
Having said that, the Eagles will almost certainly look to the free agent market for a veteran with more experience next summer. Isn’t that Taylor? He’s one reasonably priced choice. Keep an eye out.
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