Packers sign USFL MVP QB to backup Jordan Love

The Packers have signed another backup for Jordan Love, but the reigning USFL MVP might be the sneakiest pickup of the offseason for Green Bay.

Quarterback has undeniably been a focal point for the Green Bay Packers‘ offseason. That, of course, has largely revolved around an unceremonious torch-passing from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love. That’s not been all, though.

With Love being elevated to QB1 and Rodgers now in New York, the depth chart behind Love has left a lot to be desired. The Packers did use a fifth-round pick on former Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford, though anyone who watched him with the Nittany Lions will tell you that’s far from a long-term solution. Then, the only other quarterback on the roster was Danny Etling.

Not great.

Luckily, Brian Gutekunst and the front office has seemingly not let this go unnoticed and, even with training camp about the begin, the Packers are making a sneaky great pickup to address that depth issue at QB, signing USFL MVP and former Seahawks seventh-round pick Alex McGough to a contract, as reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC.

Packers news: Green Bay signs USFL MVP Alex McGough to back up Jordan Love

McGough bounced around practice squads after being drafted by Seattle out of FIU, spending time with the Seahawks, Jaguars and Texas, the last of which saw him elevated to the active roster for the first and only time in his NFL career.

After being the sixth overall pick in the 2022 USFL Draft by the Birmingham Stallions, though, McGough saw his stock rise hugely. He took over the offense in the USFL championship game in 2022, helping lead the Stallions to victory by going 7-of-10 for 77 yards and a score. That earned him the starting job for 2023 where, in 12 total games including the playoffs, he threw for 2,658 yards with 28 touchdowns to only five interceptions while also rushing for 551 yards and six scores.

Safe to say that he earned those USFL MVP honors.

Now, it’s worth noting that McGough’s time in the NFL has been brief and not chock-full of experience. At the same time, however, that could also be said of both Clifford and Etling. And McGough, though at the USFL and not NFL level, has a leg up given his success in a professional football setting.

This might not seem like a major needle-mover for the Packers, but it could be. Jordan Love is the guy, without a shadow of a doubt. However, quarterback depth is pivotal in this league and McGough will go a long way to helping solidify what’s behind Green Bay’s new QB1.