Philadelphia Eagles among NFL teams carrying four quarterbacks

Several NFL teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Minnesota Vikings, have opted to carry four quarterbacks on their initial 53-man rosters. This trend deviates from the league average of approximately 2.75 quarterbacks per team.

In Philadelphia, General Manager Howie Roseman has maintained a commitment to carrying four quarterbacks, a strategy intended to provide depth and developmental opportunities. The Eagles' current group includes starter Jalen Hurts, veteran Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee, and Cole Payton. While observers have questioned the reliability of the backups following preseason performances, the decision aims to avoid the necessity of using high draft picks on developmental quarterbacks in future seasons.

Other teams are managing similar depth concerns. The Falcons face uncertainty regarding their starting position, while the Vikings recently released Max Brosmer to manage their roster. The NFL also adjusted the final roster deadline this year to accommodate a Week 1 matchup in Australia, providing teams with additional time to make decisions following the initial cutdown.