ESPN Suggests Absurd Trade Between Steelers And Eagles

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of areas of need on the roster heading into the 2026 season, and those weaknesses can get even more exposed depending on free agency and retirement decisions from some players. There are certain areas of both the offense and the defense that are going to need some work, but the majority of the fan base is just worried about the quarterback position. It makes sense as this is the most important position in football, and Aaron Rodgers potentially coming back for a second season with Pittsburgh is intriguing. However, the veteran is weighing retirement, and that would force the Steelers to consider other options.

Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are the only quarterbacks under contract for the 2026 season, and if Rodgers does not decide to continue his career and sign with the Steelers, another player will have to be added to that room. Pittsburgh isn't in a great spot to draft a quarterback, and many pundits feel like the quarterback draft class in 2026 is disappointing anyway. Free agency or a potential trade is where Pittsburgh might have to find its guy. Bill Barnwell of ESPN recently went on NFL Daily and he made an absurd trade suggestion for Pittsburgh involving General Manager Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles.

"If you need a Tanner McKee and you knew someone who obsesses over edge rushing talent, would you not call the Eagles and say, 'Nick Herbig, Tanner McKee, two guys on rookie deals,'" Barnwell suggested. "You get a cost control player for another year who had phenomenal pass rushing numbers and we get our quarterback of the future. Does that not seem like a scratch my back, I scratch yours situation? It's not about the savings as much as it is getting pieces that you need that you don't have access to. That's why I feel like McKee would make sense as a potential Herbig trade alternative. He's a quarterback and you need those."

The Steelers need a quarterback, and McKee is considered by most to be one of the best backups in the league as of right now. Herbig is now eligible for an extension and he has just one year remaining on his rookie deal, so trading him would help Pittsburgh save some money as the organization already has a ton of financial resources committed to both TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith.

The reality of the situation is that Nick Herbig has been too good of a player in limited opportunities for the organization to even consider trading him, especially without receiving additional draft compensation. Whenever he is on the field he is making big plays happen, and trading him should be out of the question as fans should expect for him to land an extension during the 2026 offseason.

McKee on the other hand has been a bit shaky as a backup quarterback, despite the hype that has surrounding him over the last two years. He filled in nicely for Jalen Hurts and Kenny Pickett during the 2024 season, but he didn't look great in his one start in 2025. He completed just over 50 percent of his passes for a touchdown and an interception, and Philadelphia lost the game.

Steelers Would Be Better Off Starting Will Howard

If trading for McKee would involve losing Herbig, the Steelers should not do it and just move forward with Howard, and bring someone else in for competition. Howard has no experience in the league, but McKee isn't some sure-fire All-Pro. He has played decently in a few games with an absolutely loaded roster around him. A trade like this should make every fan in Pittsburgh question the organization and the decision-makers running the show.