The Pittsburgh Steelers have quietly opened talks with the Philadelphia Eagles about one of their quarterbacks — but according to a new report, the target was not Jalen Hurts. Austen Bundy of FanSided reports the calls centered on backup Tanner McKee, whom Steelers general manager Omar Khan views as an insurance option if veteran Aaron Rodgers does not return in 2026. The disclosure ties Hurts’ name to Pittsburgh conversation only as hypothetical, while revealing a concrete step the Steelers have already taken.
Bundy writes that Khan’s interest in McKee reflects Pittsburgh’s concern about quarterback continuity beyond this season. The Steelers enter the offseason with an unusually large draft capital — 12 selections this year — giving them flexibility to pursue both developmental options and immediate help. Bundy argues that McKee would be a relatively low-cost contingency plan compared with the seismic roster and draft overhaul that acquiring Hurts would require.
The idea of landing Hurts is breathtaking in scale and cost. Bundy suggests any real pursuit of the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning quarterback would demand a package “close to if not exceeding the Ricky Williams king’s ransom return,” likely including at least two first-round picks plus a mix of current- and next-year assets. He adds that adding one or two established playmakers would reduce the draft pick burden, and floated examples such as Pittsburgh pass rusher Nick Herbig or, more loosely, a defensive back of Jalen Ramsey’s caliber — players that would also address Philadelphia’s needs.
For the Steelers, Hurts would represent a quick pivot to a “win-now” posture: a quarterback who can step in and immediately stabilize an offense. As Bundy concedes, Hurts is not perfect but would be a clear upgrade over Pittsburgh’s present options and could justify abandoning a multi-year rebuild. But the cost and roster consequences of such a trade — surrendering high picks and possibly young contributors — make it a high-stakes proposition.
From Philadelphia’s perspective, moving on from Hurts appears unlikely. The report notes the Eagles are dealing with internal friction and reported drama, but Bundy emphasizes that trading a recent Super Bowl-winning quarterback would be a surprising and probably undesired move for a franchise still in championship contention. That imbalance between Pittsburgh’s hypothetical desire and Philadelphia’s probable reluctance underlines the speculative nature of Hurts-to-Steelers chatter.
What is new and verifiable in the latest reporting is not a blockbuster trade plan but the more modest, pragmatic calls for McKee and the strategic thinking inside Pittsburgh about insurance for the quarterback position. The Hurts speculation remains an illustrative “what if” that highlights how Aaron Rodgers’ uncertain future and the broader quarterback market could reshape team strategies this offseason.