Whether Rodgers or Love, expect Packers to add QB(s) this offseason
By Paul Bretl
We do not yet know for sure who the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback is going to be in 2023. But whether it’s Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love, the Packers will likely add at least one quarterback to their roster this offseason.
Currently under contract at the quarterback position are Rodgers, Love, and Danny Etling. Even if Rodgers does return, in all likelihood, the Packers will add a fourth quarterback. Throughout training camp with a 90-man roster, there are a lot of snaps to go around in practice, which is why teams choose to carry a fourth quarterback. Also, without Rodgers taking preseason snaps, having three quarterbacks available for those games is can be common practice.
With that said, because the Packers wanted Love to have the bulk of the non-Rodgers snaps last summer for development purposes, Green Bay rostered just three quarterbacks through training camp. However, with Rodgers’ status for offseason programs unknown — again, if he does return — my guess is that the Packers will carry four quarterbacks, so they have at least three available for OTAs and minicamp. Perhaps this addition comes late in the draft, but potentially more likely is that this is an undrafted rookie signing. This player (or Etling) may then be cut prior to training camp beginning if the Packers want to carry just three quarterbacks again.
Now, if Rodgers is traded or retires, and Love is the starter, the need at quarterback goes up. Without question, this will be Love’s job, but the Packers will now need, at minimum, a backup and perhaps added depth to get through the summer.
Green Bay could address this need in a few ways. One, they could choose to add an inexpensive veteran free agent to have in practice, on the sidelines, and in the film room to help Love navigate his first season as a starting quarterback. A few options in this category include Andy Dalton, Taylor Heinicke, and Case Keenum.
Or maybe the Packers would be more inclined to spend a draft pick on the position in this instance. If you recall, back in 2008, prior to Rodgers’ first season as a starter, the Packers used a second-round pick to select Brian Brohm and then a seventh-round pick on Matt Flynn. Now, I don’t believe the Packers will spend a top-100 pick on the position in this draft. Love should have the opportunity to start without all of the additional background noise about someone taking his job, but an early Day 3 selection wouldn’t surprise me.
It’s not as if Green Bay has to choose between a veteran or a rookie draft pick either–they could add both to the team in this scenario and potentially roster three quarterbacks on the 53-man as they did in 2020.
The first step to all of this is to figure out whether or not Rodgers will be back with the Packers this season. But either way, expect Green Bay to add a quarterback to the team this offseason; the question just becomes, in what capacity and how do they go about addressing the position–which, again, will be dependent upon who the starter is.