It’s a fair question to ask, will the Packers draft a Quarterback this April? With Aaron Rodgers out and Jordan Love inserted as starter, who will provide depth for the Packers at the QB spot? The question is twofold. The Packers need a backup quarterback in 2023 but also, could they or would they draft a player to perhaps compete for the starting position in a year or two?
Current Depth Chart
Right now, the Packers have Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love and Danny Etling on the roster. With Rodgers 99% out the door, that leaves Love and Etling. Obviously, Jordan will be the starter – whether Etling will win the #2 QB job remains to be seen.
Could the Packers acquire a backup quarterback from the Jets if Aaron Rodgers ends up going to New York? It’s unlikely. Assuming the Jets want to hang on to former 2nd overall pick Zach Wilson, which would be a stunner if they didn’t, there’s no other QB to obtain. Mike White signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency and Joe Flacco is an unsigned free agent.
Available Free Agents
The Packers could still add an unsigned free agent to backup Love for the upcoming season. Available free agent QB’s are guys like Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Teddy Bridgewater, Mason Rudolph, Joe Flacco, Trevor Siemian and Jeff Driskel. For a complete list of available QB free agents, you can check for yourself at Spotrac.
If the Packers were to bring in a veteran backup, said player would have to be OK joining the team in that capacity. Jordan Love will be the starting QB in 2023.
Available Draft Options
Top projected picks CJ Stroud and Bryce Young are off the table for the Packers. The Packers could possibly draft a guy like Anthony Richardson or Will Levis but that would qualify close to the “stunner” category, as both those players are still high prospects.
After those 4 players, it’s possible the Packers could target a QB later on in the draft. Tennessee Volunteers Quarterback Hendon Hooker and Stanford’s Tanner McKee are the next best available, though still unlikely to be picked by the Packers.
The most likely scenario, if the Packers were to take a Quarterback in the upcoming draft, would be a guy projected to go in rounds 4-7. A player like Malik Cunningham, Max Dugan or Aidan O’Connell seems much more plausible.
Will the Packers Draft a QB in April?
I lean yes, they will but not until rounds 4-7. It could be a player to make you say “Wow, that’s really interesting” like a Dugan but it could also be entirely underwhelming. The Packers would likely be best suited to sign a veteran QB who has NFL playing time under their belt to backup and support Love, while drafting a player in 2023 to be 3rd string with high upside potential down the road.
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Alex grew up in a family of Chicago Bears fans in the suburbs of Chicago but was always a Packers guy. Alex’s AIM name when he was in elementary/middle school was PackerAlex. He now lives in Nashville, Tennessee and you can follow him on twitter at @Alex_Mayer93.
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