How Should the Green Bay Packers Address the Backup Quarterback Position?
By GilMartin
With Jordan Love expected to take over as the team’s starting quarterback this season, Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has several choices regarding how he should fill the backup quarterback position.
The choices depend on which players are available, the Packers cap space situation and what approach the team wants to take to fill the position.
The first option would be to stick with Danny Etling who is the only quarterback on the roster right now besides Love and Aaron Rodgers who is expected to be traded by draft day.
Etling spent the 2022 season on the Packers practice squad. He is a mobile quarterback who played well last preseason for the Packers so he knows the offense.
Etling was originally drafted by the Patriots in 2018 and has also spent time with the Falcons, Seahawks, Vikings, Broncos and Jaguars but has yet to take a snap in a regular-season NFL game in the five seasons since he was drafted.
It would be unlikely the Packers would trust Etling to be their only backup quarterback this year unless he absolutely shines in training camp and in the preseason.
The Packers could also look for a veteran backup. The issue is whether the team is willing or able to spend enough money to sign a quality veteran backup who can mentor Love without threatening him as a starter.
Barring new players becoming available post June 1st, there aren’t a lot of potential veteran backups out there who the Packers can afford.
Teddy Bridgewater, for example, would be more likely looking for more money than the Packers can spend and for a better chance to start at the age of 30.
Blaine Gabbert is also available although he hasn’t started a game since 2018. That season he played under then offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur with the Tennessee Titans so he has familiarity with the offense the Packers want to run and may come cheaper than Bridgewater but would the Packers be interested in bringing him aboard?
The most interesting veteran candidate may be former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan was the NFL MVP in 2016 while LaFleur was his quarterbacks coach. That was the best season of Ryan’s NFL career and he led Atlanta to the Super Bowl that year.
Ryan is well past his prime and will turn 38 next month. He started 12 games for the Indianapolis Colts last season but struggled with a quarterback rating of only 83.9 while throwing 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Ryan may also want more money than the Packers are willing to pay him, although the chance to work with LaFleur again and the opportunity to mentor Love may encourage him to offer the Packers a slight discount but is that enough to sign Ryan?
The third alternative for the Packers would be to draft a backup quarterback. One problem with that strategy is that Love has started only one NFL game in his career. A rookie would not be able to mentor Love and a rookie signal caller is even more likely to struggle initially as he adjusts to playing in the NFL.
The rookie may also be perceived as a threat to Love if he is selected too early in the draft and may not be considered more than a developmental prospect who is not ready to play right away if he is selected later in the draft.
The Packers did have an official pre-draft meeting with University of Tennessee alum Herndon Hooker earlier this week. Hooker is coming off a season-ending ACL injury but is expected to be ready to play by the start of the 2023 NFL season.
He is also an older rookie and is actually older at 25 than Jordan Love who is 24. Herndon may not be ready to compete with Love for the starting job in 2023 but if the Packers were to use a first or second round pick on him, it would hardly be perceived as a vote of confidence in Love before he even had a chance to take over as the team’s starter.
The Packers front office has some intriguing choices to make when looking for a backup quarterback this season. Ideally, they would want to bring in a veteran with starting experience who could mentor Love without threatening him and who could step in and start a game or two if the former Utah State star is injured or struggles.
It will be interesting to see how Gutekunst goes about filling this position.
You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
Comments (54)
dobber
April 08, 2023 at 12:27 pm
" A rookie would not be able to mentor Love"
At this stage after 3 years of watching a vet prep week-in and week-out, and after taking a large share of practice reps last season, the mentoring will be coming mostly from Clements and LaFleur in response to game experience. I think they do locate a vet because the young skill position guys need someone who has some idea what he's doing throwing them the ball for their development. The development idea goes beyond just Love with this roster.
There are lots of Danny Etlings out there.
"if the Packers were to use a first or second round pick on him, it would hardly be perceived as a vote of confidence in Love"
Very true. It would be telling us that moving on from 12 was more (or just as much) about getting away from ARod and his contract, and not so much about 10--but I've thought that most of the time, anyway.
Leatherhead
April 08, 2023 at 02:17 pm
I don't think he needs a mentor. I think the team needs a guy who could come in and give us a chance if he has to finish a game, or start one, if Love is unable to go. To me, that's the bigger consideration.
I'd be more interested in a youngster than a former never was. There are a lot of Danny Etlings out there, but there are some guys that have already started...and won....games in the NFL that aren't over 25 yet. I'd rather have them.
I wouldn't be surprised if a QB is part of the Rodgers deal, and it could be Zach Wilson. If not, I wouldn't look for a QB until Day 3.
greengold
April 10, 2023 at 11:45 am
Ask yourself, LH: Are the Jets in a position to eat almost $10M in dead cap charges incurred by trading away Zach Wilson?
No.
jannesbjornson
April 08, 2023 at 02:58 pm
Grab Max Duggan rd 5-6. He is a winner. Obviously, he moves around and tosses the deep ball w/out a problem. I would only select Levis and Hooker in round one.
Coldworld
April 09, 2023 at 10:59 am
Did Brohm and Flynn really say much about how they thought of Rodgers in 2008, other than that it ain’t proven till it is proven?
TKWorldWide
April 08, 2023 at 12:51 pm
An experienced vet would likely be too expensive, and a mid to late round choice wouldn’t be any kind of tutor.
MAYBE a vet becomes affordable after wnd of training camp cuts.
Or maybe they just go with Love and Etling.
Rock, hard place.
dblbogey
April 08, 2023 at 11:10 pm
David Whitehurst is only 67, and would come cheap.
Bitternotsour
April 09, 2023 at 09:08 am
if the Jets don't pony up soon we can have a 40 year old back-up, who actually has some (admittedly spotty) big game experience.
golfpacker61
April 08, 2023 at 01:12 pm
Most of us agree that Ryan woud be the ideal choice for backing up Love, but the absolute bottom line is that unless he would sign for $2 million we can't afford him or anyone for more than that. Ryan could probably play reasonably well for us if he had to because we have an actual offensive line. He was running for his life last year with Indy. No point in suggesting him, too expensive.
How would you feel about former Steeler Mason Rudolph if we got him for minimum. He might not have much of a market and he has started 17 games in the league. He had great numbers at Oklahoma State so he can play. Rudolf got no help or mentoring from Big Ben because like Rodgers, Ben took offence when the Steelers drafted Rudolph. Big Ben made a real stink of it and was an asshole at the time and said it wasn't his job to help Rudolph. Mason is still young. I don't know who his QB coach was in Pittsburgh, but the Packers have a good one and that might be an incentive to come to Green Bay for cheap. Just get us through this year to next when we have some money and more options. Just an idea.
Swisch
April 09, 2023 at 10:15 am
I like the idea of acquiring Matt Ryan, age 37, if he is comfortable in the role of backup and mentor, with a good possibility of stepping in effectively if necessary.
Maybe the Packers and Ryan can find a way to make it happen.
It's almost always a good idea to put forward various options for discussion. In collaboration is greater accomplishment. Two heads are better than one.
BDU
April 09, 2023 at 10:37 am
Matt Ryan went down when the rush got within 3 feet of him last year. We don't need that to be what Jordan Love sees.
Matt Ryan is done. Should've retired a Falcon, but guys tend to stay too long. (Which I understand.)
Danny "Dimes" Etling is our backup QB, until he isn't.
Swisch
April 09, 2023 at 11:23 am
Maybe you're right, BDU.
He did play for the Colts, though, which may explain most of his woes.
I'd give Ryan some good consideration.
golfpacker61
April 08, 2023 at 01:16 pm
I don't know about Rudolph being a mentor, but he would be a capable backup with experience. Love and Mason are close in age too.
vin0770
April 08, 2023 at 01:33 pm
Bet Hooker ends up going in the top ten when it’s all said and done.
BirdDogUni
April 08, 2023 at 03:46 pm
If he hadn't gotten hurt, people would be clamoring for him to go top 5. I just hope he doesn't go to the viks, because I like getting those INTs every viks QB likes to throw us.
Hooker knows how to protect the ball...
dobber
April 08, 2023 at 07:19 pm
Would be good for the Packers if he did...
Coldworld
April 09, 2023 at 09:44 am
The guy is a spread offense system QB with progression issues. His athleticism was dominant in college but will be less so in the pros, especially as it mostly seems straight like not lateral escapability. He’s coming off an ACL tear, so this year that may be diminished as well if indeed he can practice in camp and play in season—potentially available for week one was the buzz from the combine—he’s not a vet who can come straight in, so there’s at least a risk he’s largely a red shirt.
Decent but not elite arm strength. Stares down receivers. He’s also got an history of sporadic accuracy issues—he needs considerable technical work and he’s already 25–the same age as Herbert will be in his 4th season. Love does not turn 25 till November. There are probably 5 post day 2 picks I would take over him to develop.
Just to remind folk, he’s actually smaller and not only slower but generally less athletic than Etling. Etling is 2 1/2 years older. Etling passed for a total of 4,586 yards, 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and had a quarterback rating of 144.4 in his two seasons with LSU in a pro-style not a spread offense.
I say this not because I think Etling is the next overlooked gem, but to put Hooker in context. Etling also came in with a lot of technical issues of course, more than Hooker, but that was back in 2018. At LSU, one thing Etling was known for, ironically, (unlike his time at Purdue) was not turning the ball over. Indeed, that’s one of the reasons the Pats (Caserio) gave for signing him.
I will admit Hooker does share one thing with Love, he’s a truly polarizing pick among the draft analysts, but without the same scale of potential upside and the spread of expected pick range going from the first to late on the third day—far greater a spread than for Love and lower ceiling too. Let the Vikings take him, please!
dobber
April 09, 2023 at 12:29 pm
My perspective was that his going in the top 10 pushes players down to the vicinity of 15...could also be that if he's still on the board at 15 and if some GM is enamored, it could create trade-down options.
jont
April 08, 2023 at 01:34 pm
The Packers have other pressing needs. I get the uncertainty / prudence about the new starter and back up plan, but I don't put a QB high on the list of needs. Yes, the team is thin at QB-- and I am one of those who believe a good GM brings in a steady stream of QB prospects as a matter of good practice-- but draft choices and limited cap space should go elsewhere this year.
Rarescope
April 09, 2023 at 08:44 am
I agree jont. SF having Mr Irrelevant as a backup that balled out and got them to the playoffs was an awesome story that illl never forget but honestly I’ve never expected much from a backup. It’s like insurance - I buy the least amount possible to keep things afloat in case of the apocalypse, but other than that rely on Plan A ;)
splitpea1
April 08, 2023 at 01:54 pm
Love doesn't need a mentor. I don't recall Favre doing any mentoring of Rodgers, and things seemed to work out fine. This whole mentor thing is SO overrated. It's not like Love is some underprivileged kid hanging out with the wrong crowd--he is a well-paid professional athlete who has patiently waited his chance for three years to show what he can do.
The Packers don't need Matt Ryan at all--not even for one season.
Draft another QB, but not in the first couple of rounds. Any rookie QB, and this certainly is true with Hooker, is going to need time to develop. So Love shouldn't need to be looking over his shoulder or worried about any votes of confidence; he just needs to perform well once he gets out onto the field.
Cheesey51
April 08, 2023 at 10:41 pm
Cut me a break
Favre had Jim McMahon
Spend the low ball $& to Ryan pickup a QB in the draft with the third 2nd er and keep picking a QB in every draft aka Ron Wolfe
splitpea1
April 09, 2023 at 11:03 am
LOL, I know you can't possibly be serious....McMahon??!!
Cheesey51
April 10, 2023 at 07:42 am
The punky QB backed up Favre for 2 years and came away with his 2nd SB ring
Doug Pederson came along later
Yes I am serious
Rarescope
April 09, 2023 at 08:46 am
“ This whole mentor thing is SO overrated. It's not like Love is some underprivileged kid hanging out with the wrong crowd-”
You won the internet today, congratulations!
Coldworld
April 10, 2023 at 07:05 am
Who was Rodgers’ mentor?
If I recall, in 2008, his backup was the rookie 7th rounder Matt Flynn and fellow Rookie Brohm was the 3rd QB.
golfpacker61
April 08, 2023 at 02:10 pm
And Love has a very good QB coach to mentor/coach him. Love will be fine with some more weapons. 3 good TEs, 2 more good WR and he will thrilled.
BirdDogUni
April 08, 2023 at 02:31 pm
We have a backup QB. His name is Danny Etling. SMH
Oppy
April 10, 2023 at 02:01 am
Danny Etling is a QB you use during training camp to eat up reps to save the arms of your #1 and #2 QB. He's a QB you're happy to have throwing to the practice squad guys.
He's not a QB you want to rely on as your backup QB during the regular season.
There's a reason he's been all over the league and has never made the 53 man roster on cut down day.
stockholder
April 08, 2023 at 02:54 pm
So- A back-up will costs us.
Money or picks.
If it's time for Rodgers to move on.
Don't expect someone better than Love.
Because BGs job will depend on it.
If this club can contend after Rodgers.
Only then will BG get the proper back-up.
My choice is Brady.
Untylu1968
April 08, 2023 at 05:46 pm
It's not time for Rodgers to move on! Rodgers is gone, so pull the posters down off your bedroom wall and get over it! Ettling will do, or draft a backup, doesn't really matter! Any team that loses their starter is normally screwed any way.
stockholder
April 09, 2023 at 07:35 am
Anything can happen until it's over.
The fallout will be;
the packers couldn't do the right thing again.
Coldworld
April 09, 2023 at 11:02 am
It is over, it’s just a question of whether we get anything for him. He will not be in the roster to start the season.
HarryHodag
April 08, 2023 at 03:11 pm
I think the matter of the back up QB will be resolved when the Rodgers trade is done. I doubt seriously the team will go into the season with Etling or a rookie as back up.
Coldworld
April 08, 2023 at 03:22 pm
As I see it this is a cap recovery and player development year. If Love remains healthy then we take the lumps and give him the best chance to grow and establish himself.
If he isn’t good then next year we are in the QB hunt, veteran and draft probably, but that’s a better class and we should be better off cap wise if still not fully recovered.
If Love gets hurt, I don’t see an affordable vet making a significant difference. So, in on field terms, I don’t see the point of replacing Etling.
Where a vet could help is as a whisperer. Probably Favre’s best Clipboard holder was Deadly Doug Pederson. He was never taking us anywhere if he had to start, but he was a smart ear and counselor and cheap. I don’t see an equivalent.
In fact, a smart guy who has been around the league a while but not as a starter is a profile that actually fits Etling. He’s also extremely mobile, which could be used to hold on in a game and has a decent arm. Pederson had started a few games, mostly in his rookie year, it is true.
I would not waste cap on a vet, or at least any I see out there. In another year I might draft in the mid rounds, but not this year.
There are, however, some interesting QBs that seem to have talent and obvious technical flaws who are likely to be available late. I’d take one and let Clements do his thing and keep Etling as number 2. A guy like Max Dugan, Myles Brennan or Tim Demorat. Physical talent but technically flawed and who have arm strength.
Exactly the types that Clements could turn around. Late round or UDFA. More upside than ones that will be drafted before them. Take 2 and let them compete to be QB3. I just don’t see the cost benefit case for a higher draft this year or any currently likely-to-be available back up.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
April 09, 2023 at 04:04 pm
I agree, but just do not see the value of signing an older and expensive veteran QB. As I have said before I just don't see Zach Wilson being able to stay in NY. If NY is willing to add Wilson in the trade (more as a freebie to finalize the trade) without any significant trade value I like the idea, as he is so young and we have Clements to work with him.
If not, someone in that 3rd thru 5th round would be a good spot to consider a developmental back-up QB.
Packers0808
April 08, 2023 at 04:09 pm
Etling would be in that role one would think.
Since'61
April 08, 2023 at 07:10 pm
Since we are "limited financially" we can stick with Etling and maybe bring in a UDFA. Between Love and Etling we already have 2 QBs who have a total of 157 snaps in NFL regular season games. What could possibly go wrong with that plan?
2023 will be a season of taking their lumps for the Packers so reduce the salary cap as much as possible, find out if Love can play or not and revise the QB plan as necessary with more cap space in 2024 and with better QB choices via the 2024 draft.
Over spending either cap or draft capital on a backup QB for 2023 will be a waste. Take it one game at a time and let the season come to us. Love deserves at least a two season shot at being the Packers starting QB. Thanks, Since '61
EnemyTerritory
April 08, 2023 at 07:20 pm
Z. Wilson as part of the trade if the first rounder doesn’t come. The Jets just signed another backup in Tim Boyle which suggests Wilson may be part of the package. There were rumors thatBig Ben was looked at by the Niners last year. He might come back and make a good clipboard holder/mentor. Regardless of whomever it is let’s hope the clipboard holder isn’t taking game snaps.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
April 09, 2023 at 04:06 pm
I am very open to Wilson being part of the trade, but only if the Jets do not place significant trade value on him. Agree with Boyle it makes you wonder about Wilson.
croatpackfan
April 10, 2023 at 04:08 am
I understand why some mention Zach Wilson as trade possibility.
One thing you forgot about Zach Wilson. ACR likes him very much and some of his statements regarding Wilson indicates that he wants to work with him as mentor. Boyle, on the other hand has very good relation with ACR and I suspect he might be ACR suggestion for B/U role this 2023 season. Adding to that I believe that Jets are not willing to trade Zach Wilson.
I also think that Packers will draft developmental QB in this draft on day 3. They will start the season with Etling as back up, but that may change during season if the drafted developmental QB will learn fast and beat out Etling for that position.
I trully believe Packers believe in Joerdan Love and that starting QB role is his to excell or to lose.
It will be interesting!
Also, I do not see any veteran QB who is that good to bet on him to win many (if any games) for Packers.
WD
April 09, 2023 at 08:32 am
Draft a QB no earlier than the 5th round. See what is available in terms of veterans as the season begins. Must be financially prudent.
KKB
April 09, 2023 at 10:20 am
Kurt Benkert.................... good compromise solution, that knows the system and is CHEAP,
plus he is young enough to still develop, but not really a threat to Love.
Coldworld
April 09, 2023 at 10:32 am
Is Benkert really a significantly different proposition than Etling?
BDU
April 09, 2023 at 10:49 am
No, but he seems like a good sort and having three guys that are comfortable with each other in the QB room would be a plus.
Tbh, backup QB is the last %'in thing I'm worried about.
Coldworld
April 09, 2023 at 11:05 am
If we want 3 and don’t want a rookie project, then Benkert would be a good add. I’d prefer to get a late/UDFA rookie for Clements to work with though.
I agree, this is not a logical thing to be worrying about this year.
BDU
April 09, 2023 at 10:47 am
Good point.
They brought him in to combine to throw and he was dropping dimes.
Idk if we roster 3 QBs or not, but Benkert wouldn't be a bad Brock Purdy type to have around.
golfpacker1
April 09, 2023 at 11:31 am
Brock Purdy was a 4 year QB who put up big numbers @ Iowa State. So he has a lot of experience playing QB. He was actually offered by Alabama. Kind of a bad choice there. I was surprised he wasn't drafted sooner, but not surprised he played well. He does not meet the NFL magic threshold for QB height, he is like 6' 0.5.
Anyway my choice for late round QB pick is Tyson Bagent-Shepard. Small school QB that played 5 years with big production every year. He ended up with 17000 yards passing and 159 TDS passing. At 70% completion. Low interceptions. He was invited to the combine and looked as good as any of the big school QBs. He would be a good developmental QB who can really play. With upside.
UDFA is Adrian Martinez-Nebraska/Kansa State if you want a Jordan Love clone with a stronger arm. Runs well too. At very least a good camp QB. He won't be drafted because he was hurt early at Kansas State. He was highly rated too. Georgia and Alabama offered.
Coldworld
April 09, 2023 at 03:18 pm
Bagent-Shepherd has a good arm.He’s got a a lot of rough edges technically and wasn’t asked to make many reads in a very simple scheme. A big learning curve. Upside but long term project. If that’s what we see him for, not a bad candidate. 7th round guy at best. Not my personal candidate for a project, but I wouldn’t object.
Martinez has limited arm strength, certainly not close to Love’s. I think average would cover it. Very nice lateral agility, but a lot of injuries. Has issues with progressions and his footwork and balance is erratic and he has a tendency to turn the ball over. I think that there are several better probable UDFA candidates out there.
Oppy
April 10, 2023 at 02:07 am
I understand not really being concerned about who the backup QB is- I don't really care much, myself- but I'm surprised to see people talking about bringing back Benkert or speaking about Etling in favorable terms.
Benkerts ship has sailed. Etling might as well hang around because he knows the system, but he's a camp arm. The Packers should bring in at least two young QBs they haven't had in before- whether that's draftees, UDFA, etc.. They need to kick tires on new blood.
Benkert and Etling aren't the droids you're looking for.
Coldworld
April 10, 2023 at 07:17 am
Etling knows the system and is cheap. Benkert us essentially the same proposition. Great? No. But in cap straightened times in a poor QB year early that’s not the worst thing to have. Etling is able to move and thus does bring some ability to hold on to a game. Most clip board types we’ve had didn’t do that. I don’t think Ryan dies much more at this point.
In 2008, the Packers went with Rodgers, Flynn, Brohm in that order. The draft suggests that they expected Brohm and Flynn to be reversed, but the point is no mentor was planned or needed, rather TT wanted development and was willing to accept that if Rodgers went down, Flynn was next up.
Ideally we do the same and add a developmental prospect and keep Etling this year or add 2 and go full on TT, knowing the season is more about the next ones. Rodgers didn’t need a mentor in TTs eyes. We were willing then to go in without one. We should again this time.
Oppy
April 10, 2023 at 10:58 am
My stance is that etling is what he is, and most likely isn’t going to develop much further… and what he is is a camp arm, not a legitimately viable back up QB.
I believe he should be kept around for camp and perhaps PS, but the Packers need to investigate new talent. Do not waste time trying to further develop Etling. Benkert was also a guy the packers have put time into and decided to pass on. Going back to Benkert would also be at best a lateral move.
I’m not looking for a mentor, I’m looking for a young QB to develop into a real Back up QB or more. Doesn’t have to be a high draft pick. Hell, might even be undrafted or a young, cast off FA. But don’t waste resources on trying to develop Etling into something he’s not.
If COVID rules applying to PS eligibility weren’t still hanging around, Etling would likely be out of the NFL this year and looking for work in the CFL or XFL. Since he IS still eligible for PS, I’m more than happy to see him stick around on practice squad because he already knows the system. But I don’t want a guy with his limited talent eating up #2 QB reps (or a 53 man roster spot)
Coldworld
April 10, 2023 at 04:41 pm
Etling is an athletic journeyman. Nothing more, but that’s at least athletic whereas the rest are merely journeymen or past it. Save the money. Draft a prospect, let Clements work with him. Let Etling start out carrying the clip board.
This year, Love should get the majority of work. Etling doesn’t need to learn the system. The remaining coaching can therefore go to a new pick and his development. These days the old QB schools are prohibited. Coaches need to use their their time wisely.
Oppy
April 10, 2023 at 06:24 pm
It sounds like we agree.