Eagles Predicted To Cut Former Starting Quarterback

The Philadelphia Eagles are fresh off a Super Bowl LIX title, but the quarterback room behind MVP Jalen Hurts has suddenly become one of the most intriguing—and most crowded—in the NFL. As the franchise continues to prioritize long-term depth at football’s most important position, one name appears increasingly vulnerable in a four-man battle: Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Acquired in March from the Cleveland Browns in the Kenny Pickett trade, Thompson-Robinson initially looked like a logical QB3 behind Hurts and second-year passer Tanner McKee. But that hierarchy was shaken up when the Eagles used their sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord—a hometown star who led the FBS with 4,779 passing yards last season and now adds another layer of intrigue to the depth chart.

McKee, a 2023 sixth-rounder, impressed in limited action last year, completing 30 of 45 passes for 323 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions across two games. His poised Week 18 start against the Giants, throwing for 269 yards and two scores without A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith, solidified him as the clear QB2 entering camp.

Meanwhile, McCord’s upside and Philadelphia roots—he starred at St. Joseph’s Prep—make him a developmental favorite of the front office. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein lauded McCord’s vertical-passing mindset and pro-style readiness, calling him “a pocket passer with good size” who should transition well into a backup role.

That leaves Thompson-Robinson, or DTR, in a precarious position. While affordable for two more years, he struggled during his Cleveland stint, throwing just one touchdown to 10 interceptions in five starts. League analysts labeled his rookie tape “overwhelming” and “nightmarish.” Despite the low financial commitment, it’s clear that upside and performance are dictating decisions in this room—not cap math.

Beat writers have all but handed McKee the backup job, calling him “the second-best quarterback on the roster.” And with McCord now positioned as the next project under Jeff Stoutland’s QB-friendly development system, DTR may not even make it to final cuts.

Philadelphia’s commitment to quarterback depth is nothing new under Howie Roseman. The team has continually spent picks and money to ensure stability behind Hurts, and the Pickett trade—even if short-lived—helped clinch a key NFC East win last year. But as the dust settles in the wake of McCord’s arrival, the writing may already be on the wall.

Unless Thompson-Robinson delivers a seismic leap in training camp, he appears destined to be the odd man out in a quarterback room that just keeps getting younger, deeper—and tougher to crack.