Andy Dalton Turns Down Eagles Reunion, Set to Sign Elsewhere
The 16-year vet declined a Philly return just nine days after being cut, and his new deal could shake loose a backup QB worth watching.
A Dalton signing elsewhere could nudge a QB loose and firm up McKee's spot.
- Dalton cut by Eagles 9 days ago
- Could sign with a new team as soon as tomorrow
- 16-year vet, 6 franchises on the resume
- Tanner McKee started Sunday vs. Panthers
- McKee: 274 pass yds, 1 TD in 4 games (2025)
Andy Dalton isn't coming back to Philadelphia. The 16-year veteran turned down an Eagles offer to re-sign just nine days after the team cut him, and he's expected to ink a deal somewhere else as soon as tomorrow, per reporting making the rounds Sunday. Philly wanted him back. Dalton, politely, said no.
That leaves the Eagles with Tanner McKee, who got the start against the Panthers on Sunday, plus rookie Cole Payton and recent practice-squad add Joe Milton, who came over from the Cowboys. For a team that just tried to reel a known commodity back in, the quarterback room suddenly looks a lot less settled than it did two weeks ago.
Dalton's resume is a tour of the NFC and AFC alike — Bengals, Cowboys, Bears, Saints, Panthers and, briefly, Eagles. He played one game for Philly this season (2026) and posted -2 PPR points, which tells you everything about his fantasy relevance as a QB3. Nobody's drafting Dalton. But his next move matters more for the ripple effect than for his own box score.
Why This Matters for Philly's Room
Here's the domino: wherever Dalton lands, his arrival likely bumps a current quarterback out of that team's room. And that displaced player becomes a logical target for the Eagles to fill the veteran gap Dalton just reopened. So the guy Philly actually ends up with may not even be on the roster yet.
For fantasy purposes, the name to track is McKee. Through four games last season (2025) he threw for 274 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception, adding 8 rushing yards for 14 PPR points total — pedestrian, but he's the one taking first-team reps right now. Payton (0 PPR points in one 2026 game) and Milton are depth, not threats, for the moment.
The move for managers: this is a WATCH, not an action. McKee only carries fantasy weight in deep two-QB and dynasty formats, and even then only if the Eagles name him the clear QB2 behind Jalen Hurts. Keep an eye on who Philly adds in Dalton's place — if they bring in a more established arm, McKee's streaming value drops. Until the room shakes out, there's nothing to start here in standard leagues.
