Could Eagles' Tanner McKee Be A Bridge For The Jets?

The quarterback desperate New York Jets happen to have Nos. 2 and 16 in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

That's typically going to be enough ammunition to go get a top-tier signal caller in most years. The problem this April is that only presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza has a consensus first-round grade and he's earmarked for Las Vegas.

Instead of pushing lesser prospects like Alabama's Ty Simpson or LSU's Garrett Nussmeier up the board out of desperation, lead NFL Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes the long-suffering Jets should be thinking about building a bridge instead of betting on a longshot.

One of the former Eagles scout's ideas during his annual pre-scouting combine video conference call with reporters was the NYJ dealing for Eagles' backup quarterback Tanner McKee.

“To me, I was looking at a couple of names, like I would kick the tires on, I don’t know if they’d be available, but for [new Jets offensive coordinator] Frank Reich, there I was thinking about [Tanner] McKee with the Eagles," Jeremiah said. "Like, what would that cost? I was thinking about [the Houston Texans'] Davis Mills. Those are a couple of guys that I’d be curious about taking a flier on for a year if you could trade a mid-round pick."

The case for dealing McKee, who turns 26 in April, is spinning him off for an asset, rather than letting him play out the final year of his rookie deal and lose him for nothing on the open market next spring.

Backup Plan For the Backup

The complication with that is if Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman deals McKee, the Eagles' don't have a backup in-house with 2025 QB3 Sam Howell set to hit free agency. Furthermore, Roseman's idea in drafting and developing QBs like McKee is about getting multiple cost-effective years at QB2 rather than having to pay a premium for a veteran backup.

Despite any of hurdles, though, Jeremiah believes the Jets should steer clear of the QBs at the top of the draft.

“I’m not taking a quarterback at [No.] 2 or [No.] 16 in my opinion," said Jeremiah. "If you want to take a flier at [No.] 33 or [No.] 44? I don’t even love that, to be honest."

In fact, Jeremiah recommended shelving the position in this draft for the Jets.

“I don’t think I’d lean in the direction of the draft for their quarterback this year. I think they will be all in for that next year,” Jeremiah explained.

The Jets have so many holes, Jeremiah advocated trading down for even more draft capital.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if 33, which is always a pick that has some value as teams go to sleep and come back and look at who is still on the board, [the Jets] could trade down and pick up another asset in next year’s draft. I think that would make some sense,” Jeremiah said.

If that's the case the Jets could be ready to strike in 2027 at QB with a better roster around the new on-field leader.

“If you go into next year with a bunch of picks, if your offensive line is in good shape, if your defensive line is in good shape, and you can find your quarterback of the future at that point in time, I think that is the right way to go," Jeremiah said. "Who knows, maybe you hit the lottery on one of these younger veterans that you can try and get. That makes more sense to me than trying to force it on a quarterback in the draft."

MORE NFL: Daniel Jeremiah On A First Round TE For The Eagles? ‘That’s Not Howie’s M.O.’