Why Did the Eagles Choose Kyle McCord? Unveiling Philadelphia's Quarterback Pick from Syracuse

After going heavy on defense in Rounds 1 through 5 of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles made a somewhat surprising selection on offense in the sixth round.

With the 181st overall pick, the Eagles selected Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord Adding to a depth chart spearheaded by current Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, expected backup Tanner McKee, and struggling quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

MORE: Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Top 250 big board

McCord, who just turned 22, enjoyed an outstanding season with Syracuse in 2024 following his move from Ohio State. During this period, he threw for 4,779 passing yards along with 34 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Standing tall at 6 feet 3 inches, McCord has the potential to become a valuable backup option in the NFL due to his promising attributes.

What was the reason behind the Eagles selecting a quarterback?

Fans can safely disregard any quick-judgment artists for this pick. It has no bearing on Hurts' status and shouldn’t substantially affect McKee’s position as Philadelphia’s expected backup quarterback.

In simple terms, this is how savvy NFL executives operate. The quarterback role stands out as the most crucial in all athletics, so franchises ought to amass numerous potential quarterbacks with the aim of developing a valuable resource for later use.

Quarterbacks such as McCord, or Ohio State’s Will Howard, were not initially considered for the earlier rounds of this year's draft. Selecting one of them in the sixth round – Pittsburgh drafted Howard at that spot too – represents a typical low-risk, high-reward strategy. The Eagles can integrate McCord into their system with hopes of developing him into a valuable player who could be utilized by them or traded later on.

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

The Eagles followed a comparable route with McKee, who appeared to be a genuine NFL starter during his brief playing time in 2024. Philadelphia selected McKee in the sixth round back in 2023, and should he keep progressing along this current path, securing a first-round pick—top-100 overall—in future drafts before his initial contract ends isn’t entirely unlikely. The addition of McCord might also play into this scenario. open the door for such a move.

That isn’t a forecast; we enjoy having McKee as a cost-effective, high-performing understudy for Hurts. McCord undoubtedly represents an improvement over Thompson-Robinson, and what unfolds during training camp should prove intriguing (assuming all four players reach that stage).

MORE EAGLES DRAFT NEWS:

• What specialists are sharing their thoughts on the new Philadelphia 'secret treasure' Mac McWilliams?
• The Eagles picked the most recent defensive player from the Georgia Bulldogs on day three of the NFL Draft.
• Dallas Goedert among biggest NFL Draft winners as Eagles pass on top tight end prospects
• How specialists rated Philadelphia's chance at selecting Nebraska's Ty Robinson as a possible Day 3 pick.
• Where did NFL analysts predict safety Andrew Mukuba would be selected by Philadelphia with the 64th pick overall?
• Specialists provide their insights on Philadelphia's deal with the Kansas City Chiefs for linebacker Jihaad Campbell.