When the Green Bay Packers traded Aaron Rodgers to begin the Jordan Love Era in Green Bay, many fans and analysts assumed they would pursue a veteran free agent quarterback to be his backup. Instead, Green Bay drafted Sean Clifford from Penn State in the fifth round (149th overall pick). Still, many free agent projections had the Packers taking a swing at some veteran during various points of the offseason.
These projections failed to take one thing into consideration, though: veteran free agent quarterbacks do not want to sign with Green Bay. This was the stance proclaimed by Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.
No Free Agent Quarterback Wants to Sign with the Green Bay Packers to Backup Jordan Love
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In his recent mailbag article, Schneidman was asked about the Packers’ signing of Alex McGough. The fan stated that they fully expected a veteran to sign with Green Bay, but did not expect it to be someone like McGough. Schneidman responded:
My guess is this is more of a “let’s get an extra camp arm in here to take up reps” signing rather than a “he’s going to compete with our fifth-round pick for the backup job” signing. Besides, no free-agent quarterbacks left will want to come to Green Bay, at least not ones worthy of the Packers’ time.
Someone like Teddy Bridgewater probably wants to sign with a team on which there’s a quicker path to potentially starting with a QB situation that’s more up in the air than the one in Green Bay.
Granted, the free agent market at quarterback is rather slim. Bridgewater and Carson Wentz are the biggest names remaining. Matt Ryan was on that list, but he recently accepted a broadcasting job with CBS Sports. He will be teaming up with former NFL running back Tiki Barber to call games during the 2023 season.
The Green Bay Packers Did Not Get a Veteran Quarterback to Backup Aaron Rodgers in 2008
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It makes sense, though. Bridgewater and Wentz have been starting quarterbacks in the past and will want to play for a team where they have a legitimate shot at starting at some point. That is not going to happen in Green Bay.
Even if Love struggles, Green Bay will not be quick to bench him. Schneidman stated earlier in his article that “If Love struggles this season, the Packers will want to see how he bounces back since 2023 (and probably 2024) is about finding out what Love is truly made of.”
While some fans may find this worrisome, it is worth noting that when Rodgers became the starter in 2008, his backup was Matt Flynn, who the Packers drafted in the seventh round of that year’s draft. Flynn, of course, beat out Brian Brohm for that role. Brohm, too was drafted in the 2008 NFL Draft (in the second round).
It worked out then. It will work out now.
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