Green Bay Packers should sign a veteran quarterback

The Green Bay Packers have a number of notable positions that need to be addressed this offseason, however, a position that hasn’t been discussed much but should be on their radar is the backup quarterback role.

In today’s NFL, many teams struggle to find a competent starting quarterback that they can build their franchise around, let alone having the luxury of a backup that can step in and carry the load when needed.

With Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, the Green Bay Packers are fortunate to have such a talented player at the game’s most important position. However in 2017, along with a quick glimpse in 2018, we saw just how ineffective the offense can be when the backup quarterback has to step in.

After Rodgers broke his collarbone during the 2017 season, third-year backup, Brett Hundley took over this Green Bay Packers team. Whether it was due to Hundley not being starter material, the coaching staff or a combination of the two, at that point in his career, being in the same system for three years as well as sitting behind Rodgers, Hundley should have been better.

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In ten games, the Green Bay Packers went 3-7, and Hundley completed just 60.6 percent of his passes while throwing only nine touchdowns along with 12 interceptions, including four games with two or more.

Even with Rodgers out for much of the year, this was still a talented offense that had a healthy Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, along with Davante Adams and Aaron Jones. Even with those players available, the Green Bay Packers offense looked elementary and was very easy to slow down.

If we look back at the 2018 season, luckily Rodgers was available for most of it, but the few times we saw backup Deshone Kizer step in were not pretty. In week one against the Chicago Bears, Kizer’s brief time on the field was an absolute disaster, throwing a pick-six and fumbling the ball, all within the second quarter.

Kizer’s only full-time start last year came in week 17 as the lethargic Green Bay Packers were embarrassed at home by the Detroit Lions. He was only able to complete 45.7 percent of his passes for 132 yards, and an interception.

It’s rare nowadays, but the Packers are a team that carries three quarterbacks on the roster. That used to be common practice in the NFL. Most teams would have their starter, a veteran backup, and a young quarterback that would hopefully take over the starting role one day.

The veteran backup would mentor the young quarterback and give him time to develop as a player. Given that Kizer just turned 23-years-old, we have seen his potential and his best years are still ahead of him but he is not game ready. Bringing in a veteran quarterback would allow Kizer more time to grow into the role while giving the Green Bay Packers someone who can step in if needed.

Some notable free agent quarterbacks this offseason include:

Now, none of these players are going to come onto the field and lead the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl, but if Rodgers misses a few weeks or even a few months, there needs to be someone who can take over and not let this team fall off of a cliff, which is what has happened in recent seasons.

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With the way Rodgers will hold the ball in the pocket, as well as his ability to scramble, he is more prone to suffering an injury that could sideline him for multiple weeks. After seeing how much the Green Bay Packers struggle with him out, as well as the fact that Rodgers has been injured the past two seasons, having a backup quarterback that can give this team a chance to win, is a must.

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