The Green Bay Packers allowed veteran backup Malik Willis to walk via free agency, but the organization may be about to add Jordan Love’s next understudy during the NFL Draft.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur’s ability to develop and maximize quarterbacks has been well documented, and that idea was reinforced by Willis’ career renaissance before signing with the Dolphins in the early hours of free agency last month.
As the NFL Draft approaches, the Packers may have a developmental quarterback on general manager Brian Gutekunst’s and LaFleur’s wish lists.
Could the Packers use a late-round NFL Draft pick on a quarterback?
Smart organizations make a habit of having a young quarterback on the roster, to develop as insurance against their starter getting injured and as a potential trade chip to acquire future draft capital in the years ahead.
Over at ESPN, top analyst Ben Solak suggests the Packers could look to add Arkansas’ Taylen Green in the fifth round of the NFL Draft later this month.
“His throwing mechanics are extremely rough,” Solak admits for ESPN. “Making him more reminiscent of Colin Kaepernick than Richardson or Newton. Green’s accuracy is predictably scattershot, and his inconsistency hitting layups makes it tough to build a reliable passing game around him. As such, any offense fielding Green would need to rely heavily on the QB running game; he should see 10-plus carries in any game he plays, a league-leading rate.
“Under Matt LaFleur, the Packers have hugely prioritized athleticism at the QB2 spot. The outgoing Malik Willis is one of the league’s best dual-threat quarterbacks, but even QB3 Clayton Tune was one of the best testers at his position. Behind Jordan Love are Desmond Ridder (another great tester) and Kyle McCord, so the QB2 job is wide open.”
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
If anyone can fix Green’s throwing mechanics, and get him to outperform his draft positioning, it’s LaFleur in an environment where there isn’t any pressure to start immediately.
Whether it’s Green, or another passer on Day 3 of the draft, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Packers add a quarterback into the quarterback room behind Love.