The Green Bay Packers Need A Quarterback — Or Two — In This Draft

This is the first in a nine-part series previewing the NFL Draft and examining the Green Bay Packers’ needs at each position.

Today: Quarterbacks

In April, 2008, legendary Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre had just
just
retired.

Aaron Rodgers was the only quarterback on the roster.

So then-general manager Ted Thompson restocked the position by drafting Brian Brohm in the second round and Matt Flynn in the seventh.

Expect Brian Gutekunst — the Packers’ current general manager — to follow a similar gameplan when this year’s draft commences on April 27.

Jordan Love, who’s at the same point in his career as Rodgers was 15 years ago, is Green Bay’s 2023 projected starter. After that, though, the cupboard is bare.

Danny Etling, a 28-year-old playing for his eighth NFL team, is currently No. 2. There isn’t a No. 3.

So look for Gutekunst to use as many as two of his 10 draft picks on the quarterback position.

“We have a lot of respect for Danny and what he’s done and would be very comfortable with him in the (No.) 2 spot,” Gutekunst said of Etling. “But I think we’ll look at a lot of different options.

“Back when Aaron took over in 2008, I think it was Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn who we drafted that year and they were our backups, so I think we’ll kind of see how that works itself out.”

Brohm wound up busting and spent just more than a full season in Green Bay as the No. 3 quarterback. Flynn was a steal, backing up Rodgers for four years, signing a three-year, $20.5 million deal with Seattle in 2012, then returning to Green Bay in 2013-2014 as the backup once again.

The Packers haven’t taken two quarterbacks in the same draft since 2008. If ever there’s a time, though, it would be now.

Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Alabama’s Bryce Young and Florida’s Anthony Richardson are widely considered the top three quarterbacks in the draft and could very well go 1-2-3. Kentucky’s Will Levis is also a projected top-10 pick.

It’s extremely unlikely Green Bay — which owns the 15^th pick in the first round — will make a play for one of the top four quarterbacks. The Packers are all-in on Love, and the last thing they want to do is give the impression of a quarterback competition by using a first round pick on a signal caller.

So the Packers are likely to use a second day pick (Rounds 2 and 3) and perhaps a late pick on a rookie quarterback. Green Bay could also add another veteran after the draft, although the free agent market is rather barren.

“If you fall in love with somebody in the draft, you can draft a young guy,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “There’s a lot of different ways to do it. I’ve been a part of a lot of different quarterback rooms. So, I just think you’ve got to try to figure out and get the best guy available.”

The Packers have little doubt internally that Love is the “best guy” for them in 2023.

After three years of waiting and watching, Green Bay is anxious to see what its 2020 first round draft pick can do.

Love played in four games in 2022 and finished the year 14-of-21 for 195 yards with one TD, no interceptions and a quarterback rating of 112.2.

“I just think his approach, his every day approach from what he was doing from a study perspective, how it transitioned to the practice field, the few opportunities he got in games,” Gutekunst said when asked why he had confidence in Love. “It’s been a steady progression since he got here.

“He kind of came in in the COVID year and all the different challenges that were thrown at him. He was a pretty young man at the time, as well. The work ethic I think has always been there and I think with a lot of these young players, that Year 3, you do seem to see a lot of things and we saw it from him. I’ve mentioned it before, but it’s just time for him to play.”

Love was outstanding during a loss at Philadelphia in November after subbing for an injured Rodgers (ribs). Love was thrust into action in the fourth quarter that night and went 6-of-9 for 113 yards and had a quarterback rating of 146.8. He led the Packers to 10 points on his two drives.

Now, Green Bay is excited to see Love week in and week out.

“He’s come a long way, quite frankly, because I know there were some times where early on you’re like, you don’t know,” LaFleur said of Love. “And I still think you have to go out there and you’ve got to do it consistently.

“It’s one thing to do it in practice, it’s another thing to take it to the game field and do it. But certainly have seen just his performance in practice, his mechanics, his decisions, his timing within the pass game and I think just his accuracy – which is what we’re aways grading the quarterback on – he’s come a long way.”

Figuring out who’s No. 2 and 3 will be a challenge, though.

Etling, a seventh round pick in 2018, has bounced around the NFL ever since. He’s been waived seven times, though, never thrown an NFL pass and even had a stint in the Canadian Football League in 2021.

Counting on Etling to be the No. 2 would range between risky and irresponsible. So the best way to attack the position is the draft.

If Rodgers is traded to the New York Jets before the draft, the Packers will gain extra picks. And that could help them take a second day quarterback.

Young, Stroud, Richardson and Levis will all be gone early on Day 1. But players such as Stanford’s Tanner McKee, Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, Fresno State’s Jake Haener, Purdue’s Aidan O’Connell or Houston’s Clayton Tune could have appeal.

Hooker is already 25 and is coming off a torn ACL late in the 2022 regular season. But he’s a remarkably gifted dual threat quarterback that could be a steal in the second or third round.

The 6-foot-6 McKee has outstanding size and arm strength. But a lack of mobility makes him a sitting duck when then play breaks down around him.

O’Connell comes from a pro-style system at Purdue and is extremely accurate. But he’s a pocket passer only who lacks great arm strength and completed just 29.6% of his deep throws in 2022.

Haener is short and thin, but a tough, competitive player. Tune was a four-year starter at Houston, but lacks athleticism and the ability to improvise.

Will Green Bay find its next backup quarterback in this draft?

The odds certainly say yes.

“I was raised in this business by Ron (Wolf) and Ted (Thompson) and taking quarterbacks and having quarterbacks, you can’t have enough of ’em,” Gutekunst said. “And if you have an opportunity to acquire a guy you think can play that position at a high level in this league, you can’t turn that down. That’s what happened when we selected Jordan (Love).

“You never know how these things are going to work out. But yeah, I think each and every day we try to make the best decision for the Green Bay Packers keeping the present and the future in mind.”

Which in 2023, means beefing up the quarterback room.

QUARTERBACK RANKINGS

1. Bryce Young, Alabama

5-10, 204

The lowdown: Won the Heisman Trophy in 2021 and might have gone back-to-back if he didn’t miss three games in 2022 due to injury. … Threw for a school record 4,872 yards and 47 TDs in 2021, and 3,328 yards and 32 TDs in 2022. … Remarkably poised, comes from a pro-style attack and is ready to play immediately. … Creativity is elite, while arm strength is good — but not great. … Reads the entire field and his game film is off the charts. … Slight build and durability worries many teams. Young would be the lightest quarterback taken in Round 1 in more than 20 years. … Worked with former NFL coach Bill O’Brien at Alabama.

Young, on his size: “Yeah, I’ve been this size, respectfully, my whole life. I know who I am. I know what I can do. For me, it’s fair (concerns). Everyone can speculate and ask when the questions are necessary. I’m going to continue to control what I can control. I’m going to keep working my hardest to improve myself at the position. I’m confident in myself. I know what I can do. I’m just excited to be at the next level.”

Projection: No. 1 overall pick

2. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

6-3, 214

The lowdown: Threw for 85 touchdowns, more than 7,500 yards and 12 interceptions during his two years as OSU’s starter. … Was two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2021 and 2022. … Was sensational in 2021 College Football Playoff against a Georgia defense stacked with future NFL players. … Terrific athlete who’s extremely accurate. … Can make plays with his legs, but he’s often hesitant to run. … Hurries through reads at times, and can be late seeing receivers come open.

Stroud says: “I try to describe myself as free-flowing, but still disciplined. Able to take the completion when it’s there, but at the same time making plays. I like to be just confident in myself. Another thing I like to do is extend plays and take the routine plays when they’re routine. I don’t try to press the envelope, and I think that’s very important being a quarterback sometimes.”

Projection: No. 2 overall pick

3. Anthony Richardson, Florida

6-4, 244

The lowdown: Dual threat player who started just one year with the Gators. … Elite size, strength and athleticism, reminding many of former Auburn QB Cam Newton. … Terrific arm strength and can beat teams with his legs. … Had five touchdown runs of at least 45 yards over the last two seasons. … Remains raw, inconsistent and inaccurate. … Lacks touch with the ball and footwork remains a work in progress. … Leaves the pocket too early and struggles reading defenses, meaning he misses too many open receivers. … While Richardson remains unrefined, his talent is off the charts and he could develop into a franchise-altering talent.

Richardson says: “I’m able to do everything on the field — run over people, jump over people, run past people. Throw the ball pretty well. Just tying it all together, I feel like that just helps me become a better quarterback.”

Projection: Top-10 selection

4. Will Levis, Kentucky

6-4, 229

The lowdown: Played one year at Penn State before transferring to Kentucky. … Threw for 5,200 yards and 43 TDs the last two seasons with the Wildcats. … The term ”cannon arm” is used often, as he has the arm strength to destroy defenses on all three levels. … Struggled to play with consistency in 2022, but battled through injuries and earned points for toughness. … Willing runner had 14 rushing TDs during his time at Kentucky. … Gets stuck on his first read far too often. … Failed to elevate his team in 2022. … Compares favorably to Buffalo’s Josh Allen, who was also surrounded by subpar talent in college (Wyoming).

Levis on his strong arm: “I think physically I have my arm talent. I think I’ve got one of the stronger arm talents than has come out of any draft class in recent memory. I think that I’m immediately able to be plugged into any offense, learn it well, and become a leader very quickly for whatever team I play for. But obviously, the goal is to progress. I want to get better every year. I’m not expecting myself to be the best quarterback in the league right off the bat.”

Projection: Top-15 pick

5. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

6-3, 217

The lowdown: Hooker is already 25 and tore his ACL late in the season, two things that will knock him down several draft boards. … Hooker says he’ll be ready for training camp, but 2023 could very well turn into a redshirt season for him. … When healthy, Hooker is a rhythm passer who has terrific athleticism. … Had a remarkable 58-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio the last two seasons. … Deceptively fast in the open field. … Extremely patient in the pocket and has outstanding awareness. … Struggles when throwing on the move. … Inconsistent deep ball passer.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay on Hooker: “Hooker is accurate to every level of the field, but really thrives throwing deep. Some scouts might be wary of drafting a 25-year-old quarterback, but he has the talent to lead an NFL offense. He has interviewed really well this spring, and the tape is phenomenal.”

Projection: Second round

BEST OF THE REST

6. Tanner McKee, Stanford, 6-6, 231; 7. Jake Haener, Fresno State, 6-0, 207; 8. Aidan O’Connell, Purdue, 6-3, 213; 9. Clayton Tune, Houston, 6-3, 220; 10. Stetson Bennett, Georgia, 5-11, 192.