Will Packers See Demand For Hundley?

The Green Bay Packers moved up in the fifth round of the 2015 draft to select UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley.  The move raised a few eyebrows, not because there was any question about who the team's quarterback was, but because general manager Ted Thompson thought enough of Hundley to trade up for him.  We know Thompson loves value and the Packers clearly felt that Hundley falling that far was worth pouncing on.  

With Aaron Rodgers entrenched as the Packers starting quarterback for the foreseeable future, Hundley isn't likely to get a chance to start in Green Bay until he's pushing 30.  That is never a plan for a young quarterback and while Hundley didn't have a choice which team selected him and what situation he fell into, he has to be thinking about what his future holds in the NFL.  Chances are, if he's going to get a chance to start, it's going to be with another team.  The Packers also know this and likely have their eye on what they can get and how they can get the most in return for Hundley.  

The question is, is this year going to be when the right situation presents itself to the Packers and they make a deal for the third year quarterback?

It's too early to say right now.  But as we know, as soon as training camps start and preseason games are being played, the injuries will start piling up and teams' needs will change in an instant.  While Hundley may not be on many top 10 lists of quarterbacks who could turn into Pro Bowlers right now, all it takes is one team who thinks highly of him, and he's packing his bags.  Year three is typically an important one in the development of a quarterback, in terms of what they can do on the field, their ability to navigate a NFL season and to be a solid pro.

Hundley saw action in four regular season games.  He threw 10 passes, completing just two.  He threw one interception and had zero touchdown passes.  The highlight of his season was the reverse toss that led to a Jeff Janis touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks.  That's not a lot of opportunities there and nowhere near a sample size that tells us enough about Hundley, but he gave the rest of the league some tape.  As silly as it sounds, that may be just enough for a general manager to want to take a flyer on Hundley if his quarterback situation gets thin.  

The Packers have Joe Callahan on the roster as a third quarterback, currently.  They let Callahan go halfway through the 2016 season and were able to re-sign him later in the year.  Not exactly a ringing endorsement for Callahan as a solid option to back up Rodgers, should Hundley be on the move.  We'll know more as the draft unfolds, in terms of the Packers quarterback room.  Based on that, it's at least worth wondering if this isn't an optimal time for the Packers to flip Hundley and continue to build their quarterback depth. 

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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts.  You can follow him on Twitter here

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Comments (17)

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

February 24, 2017 at 06:27 am

I don't think so. He looked hesitant and mechanical in the few snaps he got last year, and didn't move the offense in garbage time. He'd need to have a decent preseason to even get the 5th rounder back.

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Razer's picture

February 24, 2017 at 07:00 am

Hundley is an insurance policy on Rodgers. If we have to collect we will find out what we truly have. Beyond that, other teams would be taking a leap of faith on limited information - so trade value couldn't be that high.

Year three will be a big year for Brett's development. He should know the offense and things should have slowed down for him. I don't know if he'll get a chance to showcase his development. More likely, we get a compensation pick when he leaves after year 4.

I do like Joe Callahan. I think that he has a grit to play the position. Hope that we keep him.

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Since'61's picture

February 24, 2017 at 07:57 am

Until Hundley can add some tape from regular games I don't think the Packers will see much action on him. He has not had the type of opportunities that Matt Flynn had early in his career where he demonstrated that he could play against NE in 2010 and Detroit in 2011. Hundley could end up like Scott Tolzien and be signed as a backup elsewhere when his rookie contract expires. One way or another this is a big season for Hundley. Thanks, Since '61

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

February 24, 2017 at 07:43 am

Hundley has all the tools, Callahan has all the moxie.

I think the preseason will be a great audition for both, allowing Hundley to pave his way out of Green Bay, and Callahan to help pave Hundley's way out of Green Bay.

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croatpackfan's picture

February 24, 2017 at 07:47 am

It is always time when you got the right price for the player...

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Tundraboy's picture

February 24, 2017 at 08:26 am

Too bad we didn't play him more. Now that we need all the help we can get on D his value might have been higher. Given the lopsided scores we were on the wrong side of, there were chances to rest Rodgers and play Hundley. Personally I'd like to keep him because you never know.

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dobber's picture

February 24, 2017 at 09:00 am

"Based on that, it's at least worth wondering if this isn't an optimal time for the Packers to flip Hundley and continue to build their quarterback depth. "

At this point, the Packers have no quantifiable QB depth. They have Aaron Rodgers and two kids: one who lit it up in camp in 2015 but couldn't get healthy enough to play much in preseason last year, and another who showed well against 2nd and 3rd stringers in camp in 2016 but couldn't stick as a developmental QB prospect in QB-starved Cleveland. I agree with the previous comment: Hundley isn't worth the 5th they paid for him at this point. He needs a strong camp and to perform well in meaningful in-season snaps to jack up his trade value.

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Handsback's picture

February 24, 2017 at 10:03 am

I doubt teams would want Hot-Rod for anything more than a 6-7th round pick. There's nothing on him but two pre-seasons ago. If he blows up the pre-season again...there may be some serious consideration for obtaining him. I doubt a 1 or 2 but maybe a 3rd round pick for his services. He needs some real game experiences and I really hope he doesn't get them. I think he's a solid starter QB and some savy GM will figure that out too.

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GLM's picture

February 24, 2017 at 10:10 am

With Hundley and Callahan on the roster, I think this is a good year to stand pat at the position, unless someone wows the team with an offer....not likely to happen. Hundley has to show more before the team can get a decent pick for him. Is there someone in the draft who the team feels can upgrade the position? I doubt it, but you never know. I like both players backing up Rodgers. They can move forward and not have to worry about addressing the position this year. That's a luxury many teams don't have.

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egbertsouse's picture

February 24, 2017 at 10:45 am

Hundley has no value at this point, he's underperformed in the limited opportunity he's had. I just don't get the love for Callahan. I know Ted has a man-crush but the guy was waived by Cleveland for gosh sakes. I see him as nothing but a camp body.

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TarynsEyes's picture

February 24, 2017 at 11:04 am

".....the guy was waived by Cleveland for gosh sakes. I see him as nothing but a camp body."

So you think Cleveland has shown an intelligence in regard to what makes or is needed of a QB to be successful.
They only keep the inept as the last 30 years has proven.
The Packers had hoped Callahan would clear waivers but New Orleans picked him up and then traded him to Cleveland and the Packers were ecstatic to gave gotten him back.
Callahan has a higher ceiling than Hundley though many will disagree but I have stated as much at his first appearance in the preseason last year.

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dobber's picture

February 24, 2017 at 11:19 am

You're right: New Orleans claimed him when he was waived, but they waived him and Cleveland picked him up (no trade). They released him and he came back to GB in early December to the practice squad...not the 53 (where you think they'd put him if they really valued him). The Packers clearly do think something of him because they promoted him to the active roster, but that was also when ARod was still nursing injuries.

I don't think he has a higher ceiling than Hundley. He just doesn't have the athletic tools that Hundley does...but I would argue that he has a higher floor. Either way, he doesn't have a franchise QB ceiling. He's a career journeyman back-up.

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Bert's picture

February 24, 2017 at 12:48 pm

I would say Hundley can't have very high value at this point. At least not high enough to trade him and leave us pretty exposed behind Rodgers. Be good to leave things as is for 2017 and see where we are in 2018. I really would like to see Ted go "all in" for 2017 just to see what happens actually.

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sonomaca's picture

February 25, 2017 at 01:28 am

The fact that the Pack never looked for help at backup QB tells you that they really like him.

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Turophile's picture

February 25, 2017 at 04:36 am

Hundley has value in my eyes now, but only for the boldest GMs............and GMs are usually VERY conservative. At this time his value is little more than when he was drafted, for most GMs (imo), while his value to the Packers is more than that.

It hurt Hundley that he never had the chance to strut his stuff last preseason due to injury. I think his value peaks next offseason, if he looks good again in preseason, and it would go even higher if he stood in for Rodgers for a game or two and continued to look good.

Another good preseason (this year) may net the Packers a third round pick in next years draft, while standing in for Rodgers and looking good in the regular season, could escalate his value further, how high depends on how good he looked.

Once again, my opinions are very similar to poster Bert.

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sonomaca's picture

February 25, 2017 at 07:33 am

If McCarthy calls a friendly GM and says, "Brett's going to be good," that has no weight?

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marpag1's picture

February 25, 2017 at 08:21 am

Who is this Hundley fellow, and why would he be in demand?

I'll fall out of my chair if someone offers more value for Hundley than Hundley himself offers to GB.

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