The Green Bay Packers will not be able to achieve their Super Bowl dreams this season without a healthy season from quarterback Jordan Love. That does not mean they can afford to ignore the battle for their backup quarterback spot during the preseason. Choosing the right signal caller who can fill in for Love for a short period of time could be crucial to Green Bay's chances for success in 2026.
The good news for GM Brian Gutekunst and his staff is that Love has been pretty durable over the past few seasons. He's played in at least 15 regular-season games during each of the past three seasons. That still makes it likely the Packers will need to start someone else at quarterback for a couple of games when Love is unable to go.
Malik Willis gave the franchise one of the top backups in football last year, but the Dolphins signed him in free agency to be their new starter. The Packers responded by bringing a few new faces into training camp to rebuild their quarterback room. Tyrod Taylor was signed to give the Packers a veteran presence. Kyle McCord ostensibly sits at the No. 3 spot on the current depth chart but has a higher upside than Taylor at this stage in their respective careers.
There's also a looming possibility that the Packers might pluck a different option at quarterback if the right option shakes loose from another team in the preseason. Add it all up and it's an intriguing battle for Packers fans to watch over the next few weeks. Here's how the race should shake out in Green Bay.
1. Kyle McCord gives the Packers too much upside to ignore
Kyle McCord has not played a snap of regular season action in the NFL, but he does have some pro experience as a member of the Eagles' practice squad. More importantly, he's got the sort of arm talent and mobility required to succeed in the modern game.
That pure athletic talent makes the 23-year-old the right player for the Packers to invest in as their backup quarterback. He may not maximize their win total in 2026, but they should be looking for a multi-year solution to this roster vacancy. If McCord hits it could prove to be a low-cost solution to a high-profile problem in Green Bay.
Some Packers fans might prefer to go for the upside of an unknown new signing, but every day that McCord enjoys in camps gives him the edge over a new acquisition. Fans in Green Bay should hope he plays well enough in the preseason to seize the backup quarteback spot before it really becomes a roster battle.
2. A mystery signing should be the Packers' No. 2 option
Almost every team in the league is carrying more quarterbacks than they intend to keep on the 53-man roster as this point in the preseason. That means plenty of signal-callers are going to hit free agency between now and Week 1.
The Packers will keep a keen eye out for any young veteran that might be able to give them quality backup play in 2026 and beyond. Someone like Anthony Richardson or Will Levis could be a tempting option for Gutekunst if they can be acquired for little or no investment.
There's also a chance Green Bay could work to swing a trade to get ahead of other teams looking to acquire an intriguing quarterback prospect. Shipping a late-round pick to another team in exchange for an upgrade at backup quarterback could be a shrewd move by the front office.
In the end, there's a reason why teams let quarterbacks go in the preseason. All of them possess flaws that make them expendable. The Packers shouldn't delude themselves into thinking a big name is the right choice to supplant their current options simply based on their reputation.
3. Tyrod Taylor has almost no upside for the Packers
The idea behind installing Taylor as Love's backup is that he's a steady veteran who can operate the offense at a competent level. In essence, the hope is that he can be a poor man's version of what Willis gave Green Bay last year.
The problem with that logic is that Taylor is heading into his age-37 season. The mobility that was once the best feature of his game has started to wane. His arm strength has never been anything more than average and is also showing signs of meaningful slippage.
He's simply not good enough for a team that fancies themselves as Super Bowl contenders. He might not be an absolute disaster if forced into action, but his declining skills would put Green Bay at too much of a disadvantage to rely on.
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