The Eagles are trading a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Panthers in exchange for quarterback Andy Dalton, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Dalton, 38, served because the backup to Bryce Young in Carolina for the last three years. He began one game in 2023 but drew five starts in 2024 with the Panthers having some doubts about their former No. 1 pick. This past season, though, he began just one game with Young putting up the very best numbers of his profession and establishing himself because the team’s unquestioned starter heading into 2026.
The Panthers signed Kenny Pickett as Young’s recent backup last week, making Dalton surplus to requirements in Carolina. The Eagles have their very own backup for Jalen Hurts in 2023 sixth-round Tanner McKee, who has impressed when asked to play within the last two years. He has only made two starts with a complete of 88 passing attempts within the regular season, though he graded out as one among the NFL’s best passers throughout the 2025 preseason, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Philadelphia’s move for Dalton could mean that the team is open to trading McKee, who drew interest during roster cut-downs last summer and was mentioned as a possible trade chip this offseason. Teams looking for a young backup they may work to become a future starter could inquire after the Stanford product.
In that case, Dalton would take over as Hurts’ backup within the Eagles offense. Hurts has generally been healthy in his profession along with his absences typically coming in consequence of the team locking in its playoff seeding early.
The official terms of the deal have yet to be announced, so the Panthers might be eating a few of Dalton’s remaining salary to facilitate the trade. Assuming that just isn’t the case, the Eagles will inherit the ultimate 12 months of the two-year, $8MM extension he signed last February. Dalton is owed $3.9MM in salary ($2MM of which is guaranteed) with a $100K workout bonus and a $4MM cap hit, per OverTheCap.
The Eagles shall be Dalton’s sixth NFL team. The longtime Bengals starter enjoyed one-and-done stints with the Cowboys, Bears and Saints. The Panthers gave him a two-year, $10MM deal in 2023 to mentor a to-be-determined rookie — which became Young weeks later — and re-signed him in 2025 (two years, $8MM) despite a clumsy changeover involving a automotive accident. Dalton suffering minor injuries within the accident led to Young’s second likelihood, and the diminutive QB has kept the Carolina reins since.
One season stays on McKee’s rookie contract. This marks the third straight 12 months the Eagles have traded for a backup. They acquired Pickett from the Steelers in 2024 and made a late-summer Sam Howell acquisition in 2025. It should now be Dalton in place within the Hurts-McKee QB room, because the Sixteenth-year quarterback is organising to play an age-39 season.