The Philadelphia Eagles are enjoying a stellar season, bouncing back from their late-season collapse in 2023 with impressive momentum. With a 10-2 record and an 8-game winning streak heading into their Week 14 home matchup against the Carolina Panthers, they are currently the hottest team in the NFL. A closer look at how the Eagles have reached this point reveals a combination of smart financial moves and key personnel decisions that they should consider replicating in the offseason.
The team’s free-agent signings have paid off significantly. Notably, they signed running back and NFL MVP candidate Saquon Barkley to a 3-year, $37.75 million contract, which is quickly proving to be one of the best value deals of the year. They also added inside linebacker and leading tackler Zack Baun on a 1-year, $1.6 million contract, which has also turned out to be a smart move.
Then, there was the 2024 NFL Draft, where the Eagles made excellent selections with cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first and second rounds. Both rookies have become key contributors to the NFL’s top-rated defense.
Looking ahead, with an estimated $32 million in salary cap space for 2025, the Eagles should consider freeing up more room by trading a valuable player, such as backup quarterback Kenny Pickett, and also targeting a quarterback in the later rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
What the Eagles Need in a Backup QB for Hurts
With an elite starter like Jalen Hurts, the traditional approach for most NFL teams is to have a backup quarterback who closely resembles the starter’s skill set. Pickett, who currently serves as Hurts’ backup, fits that mold.
If the Eagles can find a team willing to take on Pickett and the $2.6 million he’s owed in 2025 under his 4-year, $14 million rookie deal, they could save approximately $1.6 million by drafting a new backup in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. This would free up additional cap space while still finding a capable replacement.
In 2024, a record-tying 6 quarterbacks were selected in the first round, but only 5 quarterbacks were taken in the remaining rounds, with salaries varying by only $200,000. For example, New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler, taken in the fifth round, signed a 4-year, $4.3 million deal, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Michael Pratt, selected in the seventh round by the Green Bay Packers, received a 4-year, $4.1 million contract.
Possible Candidates for Philly’s Next Backup QB
Pickett, who was drafted in the first round by the Steelers in 2022 and has a 14-10 record as a starter through two seasons before being traded to the Eagles, could attract interest as a high-level backup or potential starter. Teams with young quarterbacks or in need of a reliable backup, such as the New York Giants or Las Vegas Raiders, may be looking to acquire him.
However, Pickett has thrown as many touchdowns as interceptions (13 each) and completes just 62.4% of his passes, which makes finding a viable replacement in the draft a manageable task for the Eagles.
One potential option is Dillon Gabriel from Oregon, who is ranked 10th among quarterbacks on ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s “Draft Big Board” for 2025. Gabriel has had an outstanding season, leading the undefeated Oregon Ducks to a 12-0 record and becoming only the eighth quarterback in college football history to surpass 15,000 career passing yards. He was named the Big Ten Player of the Year on December 6 and will set the NCAA record for most career starts by a quarterback in the upcoming Big Ten Championship Game against Penn State. Gabriel could be a smart developmental option for the Eagles if they decide to draft a backup quarterback.
