The Philadelphia Eagles are making another change at quarterback, turning to Joe Milton III in hopes of sparking a much-needed offense after six straight losses.

Milton will make his first NFL start Sunday against the New York Giants, replacing Tanner McKee, who went 0-3, completing 72 of 114 passes for 638 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Philadelphia's offense averaged just 15 points during those three starts, continuing a season-long struggle to sustain drives and generate explosive plays.

The Eagles rank last in total offense at 265.3 yards per game and are averaging just 17.1 points. Milton won't solve every problem, but his physical tools provide offensive coordinator Sean Mannion with opportunities that weren't consistently available with McKee.

Here are five reasons Milton could succeed where McKee struggled.

1. Milton's mobility can compensate for protection issues

Milton's ability to extend plays gives Philadelphia another way to overcome its inconsistent offensive line.

The 6-foot-5 quarterback has rushed for 66 yards on 15 carries during his NFL career, including 50 yards on five attempts with Dallas in 2025. McKee is primarily a pocket passer who relies on timing and protection to operate efficiently.

Milton can escape pressure, extend plays, and turn potential sacks into positive gains. Those abilities could be particularly important against a Giants defense that blitzes on 38.8% of opposing dropbacks.

2. His arm strength creates more opportunities downfield

Philadelphia has struggled to consistently stretch defenses vertically, allowing opponents to crowd the line of scrimmage and limit opportunities underneath. Milton possesses one of the strongest arms among NFL quarterbacks, providing the ability to attack outside the numbers and challenge safeties downfield.

In his most extensive NFL appearance, Milton completed 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown against Buffalo in January 2025. He averaged 8.3 yards per attempt, showing his potential to produce beyond short, controlled passing concepts.

The Eagles need explosive plays, and Milton's arm strength gives Mannion additional options.

3. Designed quarterback movement can expand the playbook

Milton's athleticism lets Philadelphia incorporate bootlegs, moving pockets, and occasional read-option concepts.

Those adjustments could force opposing defenders to account for the quarterback rather than concentrating exclusively on Saquon Barkley. New York enters Sunday allowing 128.1 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry, creating opportunities for Philadelphia to establish a more balanced attack. Even the threat of Milton keeping the football could influence defensive assignments and create additional space for Barkley.

4. Milton provides another option when plays break down

McKee's effectiveness depended heavily on the Eagles executing their passing concepts as designed. When protection deteriorated, or receivers struggled to separate, Philadelphia often found itself in difficult third-down situations.

Milton offers greater improvisational ability. His combination of size, mobility, and arm strength allows him to extend plays outside the pocket and challenge defenses after the initial read is covered.

That doesn't eliminate concerns about decision-making or ball security, but it gives the Eagles another way to create offense when the original play fails.

5. A different skill set could help Mannion establish an identity

Philadelphia has struggled to develop a consistent offensive identity through eight games, despite ranking among the league's most efficient teams in the red zone.

The Eagles have converted 71.4% of their red-zone opportunities into touchdowns, ranking fourth, but their inability to consistently reach scoring territory has limited the offense. Milton's dual-threat ability could help Mannion simplify the passing game, create favorable rushing matchups, and build an offense around the quarterback's physical strengths.

The challenge will be finding the proper balance between taking advantage of Milton's talent and avoiding unnecessary mistakes.

Milton has appeared in only five NFL games and joined Philadelphia less than a month ago. His lack of experience in Mannion's system remains a legitimate concern, particularly with DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks ruled out Sunday.

The Eagles don't need Milton to carry the offense. They need him to generate explosive plays, avoid negative situations, and provide enough balance to make Philadelphia competitive.

After six consecutive losses, a different approach at quarterback offers a chance to see whether the offense's problems are mainly execution or whether a different playing style can produce better results.