Packers Show Interest in Baylor QB Bryce Petty

The NFL Draft prospect is reportedly scheduled to come for a pre-draft visit in Green Bay.

Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty—John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports.

Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty—John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports.

Suffice to say, if the Green Bay Packers bring in a player for a pre-draft visit all the way to Lambeau Field, they're interested.

That's what makes a scheduled visit with Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty so interesting.

First alluded to by David Smoak of the ESPN Radio affiliate in Central Texas and then reported by Bill Huber of Packer Report, Petty looks to be one of 30 pre-draft allotted visits the Packers are allowed to have by the NFL.

Most of the players the organization brings in for pre-draft visits tend to be under-the-radar types, those not invited to the NFL Combine or all-star games where the team could get easy access and interview them. As one of the top-rated quarterbacks in this year's draft class, Petty definitely doesn't fall in that category.

Regardless, the Packers show an atypically high amount of interest in these players. Take for instance 2013 when the Packers signed at least nine of the players they brought in for visits, including Andy Mulumba, Charles Johnson, Ina Liaina, Kevin Dorsey, Lane Taylor, Nate Palmer, Jumal Rolle, Michael Hill and Patrick Lewis.

The number of players the Packers signed after pre-draft visits last season wasn't quite as striking, but they still ended up adding Joe Thomas and John Fullington. Other players they've signed after visits in recent seasons include Jerron McMillian, Ryan Taylor, Brandian Ross and Shaky Smithson.

The Packers also brought in four quarterbacks for visits last year—Tom Savage, David Fales, Keith Wenning, Brock Jensen—none of which they ended up signing, but none of them were quite as highly-touted as Petty, either.

Petty comes from a spread system at Baylor quite unlike an NFL offense, which raises questions about his ability to progress through multiple reads and make the transition to the pro game.

Working in Petty's favor, however, is a sufficient NFL-caliber arm, touch on his deep passes and toughness. He played through two broken bones in his back during the 2014 season.

Some of the Packers' offensive gurus, such as head coach Mike McCarthy, offensive coordinator Tom Clements and quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt will likely want to pick Petty's brain and find out his knowledge of the game before investing what would probably be a Day 2 draft choice into him.

The Packers have selected only one quarterback in their past six drafts, and that was B.J. Coleman in the final round in 2012. The last time they took a quarterback outside the seventh round was back in 2008 when they picked Brian Brohm in the second round.

General manager Ted Thompson is perhaps trying to avoid a situation like 2013 when Aaron Rodgers was injured and the team was left without a competent backup when Coleman and Graham Harrell fizzled out, Scott Tolzien wasn't ready for primetime and Matt Flynn hadn't yet been signed.

Tolzien was brought back for the 2015 season but signed just a one-year contract this offseason.

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Comments (20)

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L's picture

April 02, 2015 at 04:54 pm

I highly doubt they'd have to use a Day 2 pick to get him; hell, I think he could go undrafted, but honestly that's just my guess.

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Allan Murphy's picture

April 03, 2015 at 11:35 am

He threw too many INT for me good sometimes and really bad like other times your like were is he throwing omg so no for me also .

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NewNikeShoes's picture

April 03, 2015 at 12:19 pm

Consistency issues can be fixed with teaching.
This prospect I'm hella on the fence about, I mean he's got all the physical tools, can light up the field, and can also scramble decently too. But he's a dummy when it comes to reading defenses, I mean really bad at reading em. I'd take the shot, but only around the 6th or 7th

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

April 02, 2015 at 06:25 pm

No way I would and I mean no way.

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CheesestradamusDOTcom's picture

April 03, 2015 at 11:46 am

It's a ruse by tricky Ted. It force's someone else to pick him early because they think we will choose him before they can pick him. That will move us up (one closer) to the guy we are really after. A game of misdirection to disguise our strategy.

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sonomaca's picture

April 03, 2015 at 06:46 pm

Sounds about right. It does demonstrate, in my opinion, that the Pack are interested in QB. We just don't know which one.

As I've said for some time now, were Mariota to fall a bit, I think TT might try to go up and get him. Of course, he'd have to fall below 20.

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sonomaca's picture

April 04, 2015 at 10:09 am

Some team is going to fall for Hundley, even though he couldn't hit the side of a proverbial barn. So, he may be gone in the 20's. However, if the Pack can gin up interest in Petty, perhaps they can pick up an additional 2nd or 3rd round pick. If Winston, Mariota and Hundley are gone by 30, that really leaves only Petty before a massive drop-off.

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sonomaca's picture

April 04, 2015 at 10:34 am

I think the Pack are going to be out of luck, because Petty will probably be long gone by 30. If, in fact, there are 4 first round QB's, that will improve the range of choices at 30. So, it's all good.

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sonomaca's picture

April 04, 2015 at 10:40 am

If the Pack can't get Petty at 30 (or trade down), I think they have to select a corner. First round corners are much more valuable than first round ILB's.

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jmac34's picture

April 04, 2015 at 11:41 am

No one and I mean no one is taking Petty in the first round.

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sonomaca's picture

April 04, 2015 at 12:03 pm

He's a first round lock.

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sonomaca's picture

April 04, 2015 at 06:06 pm

Gil Brandt on Petty:

"Bryce Petty is like Jimmy Garappolo was last year, in terms of ability, not playing style. Not in top group but not far behind."

Some have speculated that Petty is Philly's mystery man at #20. Other teams speculated to have an interest in Petty: Saints, Cowboys, Bills, Packers. Lots of potential suitors.

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sonomaca's picture

April 05, 2015 at 01:59 pm

Dallas has had Petty in for a workout, just like the Pack. Are these top notch teams involved in some elaborate deception to trick the Cleveland's of the world?

Nobody thought Derek Carr was great, but he's turned out to be the best of the bunch from last year (at least, so far). No one can say for sure whether Petty will be worse than Mariota or Winston. Some of top teams, those with time to spare such as the Packers, Cowboys, and Saints, seem to think he might be the real deal.

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ben's picture

April 05, 2015 at 02:20 pm

Zach Mettenberger (a 6th round draft pick) will prove to be the best QB from last year's draft class.

There are ZERO 1st round caliber QB's in this years draft class.

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sonomaca's picture

April 05, 2015 at 03:01 pm

I too think Winston and Mariota, in particular, are highly overrated. You might be right about Mettenberger. That said, there are been precious few QB's drafted after round 2 who are any good at all. You've got Russell Wilson, Foles, Mallett, and that's really it going back 9 years.

If there's any chance that Petty could be a top 20 QB in the league, someone will take him late round 1, early round 2.

BTW: I think Garofolo is going to end up being a steal. That's what the good teams do.

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sonomaca's picture

April 05, 2015 at 03:59 pm

The performance of late round QB's has been so bad in recent years, that I'd say you're definitely throwing away a pick if you take one. Mettenberger may prove the exception because he had first round talent. The injury, off-the-field stuff, and immobility combined to push him way down.

You're much better off taking a flyer on a late 1st, early 2nd round prospect, which actually do have a decent hit rate. Carr, Kaepernick, Dalton, and possibly Garropolo (late 2nd) and Bridgewater are recent examples.

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ben's picture

April 05, 2015 at 05:33 pm

Garroppolo is top 2 of the 2014 class. Liked him a lot coming out., he's a player. Mettenburger is limitless.

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sonomaca's picture

April 05, 2015 at 06:52 pm

Problem for him is that Brady continues to play incredibly well. I think he just has to be patient and try to learn as much as possible. We'll see how much confidence they have in Mettenburger on draft day.

I think the Packers experience with Coleman has taught them that they are very unlikely to get a starting QB beyond round 2. I'm sure Ted would like to do find a Garoppolo in the next couple of years. I'm not sure why he fell so far because he really stood out at the Senior Bowl. Cleveland took Manziel at 22 when they could have had Garoppolo at 62. Dumb asses.

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sonomaca's picture

April 05, 2015 at 09:13 pm

Drives me nuts to see all these mock drafts on NFL.com, Waltersfootball, etc, and nobody as more than two QB's in the first round. Hundley will not escape the top 20, and yet, where is he on draft boards? Petty will likely come in late round 1 or early round 2. He's not there, either. The Rams, Chiefs, Cardinals, Jets, Bears, Browns, Bills, Texans, Chargers, Eagles, Cowboys, Broncos, Saints, and even Packers would all be interested in QB with starting caliber potential.

Of course someone will take a flyer on Hundley, Petty, and maybe Grayson early on.

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Tundraboy's picture

April 07, 2015 at 07:10 pm

This was fun to read. 60 plus comments about TTs poker game. Ah it feels good to have the season around the corner!!!

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