Packers will know if veteran QB is needed after offseason programs
By Paul Bretl
If the Green Bay Packers are going to add a veteran quarterback to their roster, they will know if that’s a need following offseason programs and minicamp.
"“I believe so,” said Matt LaFleur when asked if they’d know whether or not a veteran quarterback would be needed following offseason programs. “But I think all those guys have done a lot of nice things. We will take it and evaluate it once we get to the end of it.”"
Both LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst have kept the door open this offseason when it comes to adding a veteran presence to the quarterback room to back-up Jordan Love. However, both have also been clear that before that decision is made, they wanted to give the young quarterbacks some much-needed practice reps in order to evaluate them and better understand where each player is at.
Behind Love and competing for that backup role is fifth-round pick Sean Clifford out of Penn State and Danny Etling, a 2018 seventh-round pick with no NFL snaps, who spent all of 2022 on the Packers’ practice squad.
"“Sean has done a nice job,” said LaFleur on Wednesday. “I still think there is a lot of growth in front of him, obviously. But it’s different for these guys that maybe haven’t had the long play calls and all of that, being under center, so there is definitely a transition there.”"
The purpose of adding a veteran quarterback to this team would not be to push Love for playing time but rather to provide some experience to that room, which can be valuable for a first-time starting quarterback. That veteran is an extra pair of eyes on the sidelines, in the film room, and on the practice field to provide feedback and share insights into what they are seeing. All of which will hopefully help Love in his development.
If experience is what the Packers are looking for – and it should be if they decide to make an addition – remaining free agent options include Carson Wentz, Teddy Bridgewater, Nick Foles, and Joe Flacco, according to Spotrac.
I go into greater detail here about the Packers’ current salary cap situation, but in short, while they may have $16.56 million in cap space on paper, Ken Ingalls projects that, in terms of spending power, they have about $4.2 million available. Although not a huge amount, that shouldn’t impact Green Bay’s ability to make an addition. Truthfully, they shouldn’t be spending much more than the veteran league minimum to fill this role anyways.
If the Packers do make a veteran signing, most likely, a cut at the quarterback position would be incoming as the corresponding move. For one, regardless of the position, a corresponding cut is required since the roster is currently maxed out at 90 players. But in addition to that, LaFleur also mentioned on Wednesday that while keeping four quarterbacks could still be a possibility, it’s “really difficult” to get that many players the required number of reps they need to showcase what they can do.
"“I just think it’s really, really difficult to get four guys the amount of reps that you need to get in order for them to show what they can do,” said LaFleur. “Certainly, there’s times where you have a veteran guy like we’ve had in years past, where you’re not going to play in the preseason, then it’s a little more doable. But it’s really hard. Jordan needs a ton of reps; they all do. So how do you divvy those up? If we feel like we need a fourth, certainly, we will bring one in.”"
If all of this plays out as described, with a veteran signing made and only three quarterbacks kept, Etling is likely the odd man out with the Packers retaining Clifford, who they just drafted.
The final week of voluntary OTAs will take place over the next handful of days and will be followed by mandatory minicamp from June 13th through the 15th. It’s at that point that the Packers very well will know if a veteran quarterback addition is needed, with a signing potentially taking place in the weeks to follow.