Is Kenny Pickett the best backup QB for Eagles? Takeaways from preseason win over Patriots (2024)

The Kenny Pickett trade afforded the 2022 first-round pick a fresh start. But after two preseason games, Pickett is wavering as the best option as a backup quarterback for Jalen Hurts.

Pickett’s preseason play is consistent. He’s yet to prove he can capitalize on downfield opportunities. Against the Baltimore Ravens in the preseason opener, Pickett underthrew John Ross on a vertical route. Against the New England Patriots on Thursday night, Pickett overthrew Ross after the receiver blew past Christian Gonzalez on Philadelphia’s second offensive play of the exhibition.

Pickett is more proficient on shorter throws. Against the Ravens, he struck tight end Grant Calcaterra for a 7-yard gain on a run-pass option play. Against the Patriots, Pickett hit Ross on a 9-yard slant that converted a third-and-5 situation on the Eagles’ second offensive drive. Pickett flipped a throw to Kenneth Gainwell on the next play that went for 11 yards. But when Pickett once again sought to sling it deep on third-and-5, he couldn’t connect with Gainwell along the left sideline.

This isn’t anything a thorough scouting report on Pickett wouldn’t have portended. In two seasons, Pickett owns 0.18 Expected Points Added per dropback on pass attempts beyond the sticks, according to TruMedia, and 23.7 percent of those attempts were off target. (Hurts owns 0.49 EPA per dropback on such attempts in that same span, 17.5 percent were off target.) Pickett, it should be noted, hasn’t yet had the luxury of throwing to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. But neither has the 2023 sixth-round pick whose recent play suggests he may be a better option than Pickett at QB2.

Data: TruMedia

Tanner McKee, who exited for one drive featuring Will Grier, returned in the fourth quarter to lead a seven-play, 70-yard touchdown drive in which McKee threw the two-point conversion that gave the Eagles a 14-13 win over the Patriots in Gillette Stadium.McKee completed 15 of 19 passes for 140 yards, including a 28-yard strike to Joseph Ngata near the goal line that yielded the go-ahead score. McKee showed composure on downfield throws. He entered the game to start the second half and immediately converted a third-and-3 situation with a 13-yard throw to tight end E.J. Jenkins.

Pickett completed 11 of 13 passes for 67 yards. He was often under duress. He was sacked four times, including during a third-and-6 situation on the third offensive drive, in which the pocket collapsed and Pickett failed to escape.

McKee’s night wasn’t devoid of mistakes. The Eagles failed to convert a fourth-and-1 on a Brotherly Shove attempt due to a botched snap between McKee and rookie center Dylan McMahon. McKee also faced a constant cycle of second- and third-team Patriots defenders. But McKee’s play against the lower levels of opposing depth charts has already persuaded Eagles decision-makers to field him in tougher scenarios.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore deployed Pickett and McKee with the second-team offense in Tuesday’s joint practice with the Patriots. McKee overshot a receiver on his first attempt in the practice but completed his next two passes — including one that hit Ainias Smith in stride along the sideline. The development didn’t result in McKee supplanting Pickett as the starter Thursday night. That would’ve been jarring. But with one preseason game remaining against the Minnesota Vikings in Philadelphia on Aug. 24, McKee’s recent play at the very least warrants more practice time with the second-team offense, if not an open discussion about QB2.

Sirianni dodged multiple questions Thursday about whether McKee outplayed Pickett, or if a competition existed between the two quarterbacks at all.

“You saw where they went in there today,” Sirianni said. “Kenny’s our No. 2. Tanner’s our No. 3. And I’m happy they’re both on the roster.”

It’s a discussion the Eagles deem important. General manager Howie Roseman has long valued the No. 2 QB slot, a philosophy he continued by acquiring Pickett in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers that included swapping a 2024 third-round pick and a pair of 2025 seventh-round selections for a 2024 fourth-round pick. Roseman, who’s worked in the front office since 2000, also pays close attention to where he can exploit market inefficiencies. McKee’s contract as a sixth-round pick could offer the Eagles relief in the salary cap.

Pickett has two years remaining on his rookie deal, and it’s improbable that the Eagles pick up a costly fifth-year option for a backup quarterback. McKee, who’s under contract through 2026, won’t have a cap hit above $1.2 million in each of the next three seasons.

Starting offensive line is all but set

The Eagles may have solidified their starting offensive line. Right guard was the only active position battle. Tyler Steen opened training camp with the first-team offense, but the 2023 third-round pick was supplanted by Mekhi Becton after suffering an ankle injury that sidelined him for five practices. Becton started against the Baltimore Ravens, but only played for a drive. He did not play at all against the Patriots, a status of leisure typically reserved for starters.

Steen’s injury complicated the battle he found himself fighting from behind. He started against the Patriots and played three drives before exiting the game after getting rolled up in pass protection. He walked off the field under his own power but exited the field on a cart after trainers examined him in the medical tent. The Eagles officially ruled out Steen with an ankle injury. Sirianni said postgame that he did not yet know the severity of the injury.

Steen’s most recent injury once again highlights Philadelphia’s lack of dependable depth along the interior. Rookies Trevor Keegan (fifth round) and McMahon (sixth round) are entrenched in their first training camp, although Keegan has now twice started at left guard in the preseason. The Eagles signed journeymen Matt Hennessy and Max Scharping in the offseason, and they added Nick Gates during training camp. Hennessy was unavailable Thursday night due to an undisclosed injury.

Depth at tackle is more stable. Two-time All-Pro Lane Johnson said Tuesday “if there’s a guy whose name is increasingly rising,” it’s Darian Kinnard, who started at right tackle on Thursday. Sirianni also offered up Fred Johnson as an unsolicited player of praise during his postgame interview. Johnson started at left tackle. It may be difficult for players like Scharping and Brett Toth to make the roster. Scharping entered the season with just three career snaps at left tackle. He subbed in at left tackle against the Patriots and surrendered two sacks on the fourth offensive drive, including a fourth-and-8 situation that resulted in a turnover on downs.

Stock up

• Safety Avonte Maddox: The Eagles have been searching for depth at safety, and they recently signed an injured Caden Sterns as a future option to help. But Maddox kept himself in the conversation by picking off Jacoby Brissett in the end zone on the second offensive drive. Maddox was in man coverage on tight end Austin Hooper and jumped the pass.

• TE E.J. Jenkins: After logging a drop against the Ravens, Jenkins had the best hands in the stadium against the Patriots. He caught five passes for 47 yards. He jumped for a 6-yard reception on the second drive that helped produce a field goal on the drive. He also leaped for a 19-yard reception from Will Grier to start the fourth quarter.

• LB Nakobe Dean:The 2022 third-round pick is proving himself to be an effective blitzer. He recovered well on a first-and-10 blitz in which he chased down Polk to limit him to a 6-yard gain after Polk juked out Bradberry and rookie LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Dean later surged through the line on second-and-goal and disrupted the backfield in what resulted in a 1-yard loss. Dean, on the seventh defensive drive, later swallowed Polk for no gain on a swing pass.

• Edge Bryce Huff: In his first appearance of the preseason, the presumptive starter had four tackles in his only two drives, which included a swift read on a screen play.

• Edge Nolan Smith:The 2023 first-round pick started and played for a significant portion of the game. Smith was flagged for a costly roughing the passer on the fourth drive. But he had a punt-forcing sack in the third quarter. He was jammed at first, but he sped through two blockers to sack first-round rookie QB Drake Maye.

Stock down

• Safety James Bradberry: The career cornerback experienced his first setbacks at safety Thursday. He whiffed a tackle attempt on a swing pass to Ja’Lynn Polk. Later, on New England’s fourth drive, Maye scored on a 4-yard run on a zone-read keeper. Bradberry and edge rusher Jalyx Hunt both got sucked inside. Nobody accounted for Maye.

• CB Kelee Ringo: It may be unfair to place Ringo in this category. But the 2023 fourth-round pick has volatile results in tight coverage. On third-and-5, Javon Baker got inside Ringo for a 12-yard gain. But on a later third-and-8, Ringo forced Baker out of bounds early in his route and Baker was never able to get back in play. Baker later beat Ringo deep on the first defensive drive of the second half, but Baker dropped the pass. Such crucial coverage scenarios require more consistency.

• Eagles kick coverage unit: Patriots returner David Wallis swerved through the kickoff coverage team for a 53-yard return that’ll earn this unit the ire of special teams coordinator Michael Clay.

(Photo of Kenny Pickett: Jaiden Tripi / Getty Images)

Brooks Kubena is a Staff Writer for The Athletic covering the Eagles. Brooks has covered the NFL since 2021, most recently as a reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering the Texans, and he previously reported on LSU football for The Advocate | Times-Picayune from 2018-2020. Brooks, a graduate of the University of Texas, has received APSE National Top 10 honors eight times for his reporting, which includes his beat writing coverage during the 2022 season. Follow Brooks on Twitter @BKubena