3 Quarterbacks To Keep an Eye On for the Backup Job
Backup Quarterback will low key be one of the Packers most important 2026 offseason acquisitions.
By Dan Saia
I have been very intrigued by what the Packers are going to do at backup quarterback. One might even say it borderlines on obsession. I wrote a piece recently on the prospect of Desmond Ridder being the Packers’ next reclamation project ala Malik Willis. While I do still believe that is a possible outcome, it would be irresponsible if I didn’t look at what other options might be out there for Green Bay to consider when they enter roster construction mode for 2026. Jordan Love has missed more time than I’m sure the Packers are comfortable with, making the need for a competent backup all the more important. If he goes down for 2–4 games, they need someone who can step in and keep them afloat. After all, if it wasn't for Mailk Willis in 2024 they probably DON'T make the playoffs. So I spent some time looking at realistic free agent and trade options for the Packers, and three players came away as interesting names to watch to do just that.
Trey Lance-
The former third overall pick in the 2021 draft will go down as one of the worst draft trade-ups of all time. The 49ers gave up three first-round picks and a third-round pick to move up for the right to select the North Dakota State quarterback. He flamed out, and fast forward several years later, he is going to be in search of his fourth team already — and he hasn’t even turned the ripe age of 26 yet. The expectations placed on him due to not only his draft status but also the amount of assets the 49ers gave up to acquire him have likely been his downfall up to this point more than talent. While Kyle Shanahan couldn’t unlock his full potential, maybe Matt LaFleur can?
He could most likely be had for cheap. Last offseason he signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers to back up Justin Herbert. He started the final game of the year while Herbert rested for the playoffs and went 20 of 44 for 134 yards and an interception returned for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos. He did add 69 rushing yards, which led the team that day. His dual-threat ability is what would appeal to me the most if I were Brian Gutekunst and Green Bay. We have seen what type of game plan LaFleur can build with a quarterback who has both arm talent and mobility. Why not take a flyer on a former top pick and bank on your developmental abilities to get the most out of him?
Will Levis-
The only player listed here who would require the Packers to give something up for (unless he’s cut), but it makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Who is another former Tennessee Titans quarterback who flamed out but revived his career in Green Bay? If you said Malik Willis, you would be correct! Levis has plenty of starting experience in his three-year NFL career, with 21 starts under his belt. While he hasn’t exactly set the world on fire in those starts with a 5–16 record, he was playing for a talent-deficient Titans team that fired their head coach last year.
Levis sat out 2025 due to a shoulder injury suffered in the offseason that ultimately required surgery, so he didn’t accumulate any stats last year. But his stats from 2023 and 2024 are better than his record would indicate: 339 completions on 556 attempts, good for a 61% completion percentage, with 3,899 yards and 21 touchdowns to 16 interceptions, plus 240 rushing yards. With just one year left on his rookie contract and a salary of just over $1.1 million for 2026, it’s another addition that wouldn’t break the bank for a Packers team that will be tight on resources. The Packers gave up a seventh-round pick two years ago for Willis, who at the time had two years left on his contract. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a similar deal, or perhaps even a conditional draft pick (that goes up or down based on his play), for Levis. With a big arm, enough mobility, and an athletic build, he would be a quarterback the team wouldn’t have to change their offense much for if Love were to go down.
Tyler Huntley-
Malik Willis lost his only start this year as the Packers’ starter — who was the quarterback on the winning side? That would be “Snoop” Huntley of the Baltimore Ravens. The 28-year-old former Pro Bowler has bounced around in his career between the Ravens, Browns, Dolphins, back to the Browns, then back to the Ravens, but is a quality option for Green Bay to consider. He has started 16 games in his career, including two against the Packers, and has appeared in 30 total. What he has that the other two don’t, however, is postseason experience. Huntley started a playoff game during his 2022 Pro Bowl season and almost led the Ravens to a victory. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, that postseason experience, while limited, should appeal to the Packers.
The Packers could rinse and repeat the Malik Willis playbook with Huntley, and you probably wouldn’t notice much of a difference. What would make me the most skeptical about Huntley would be competition on the market. He has fit so well in Baltimore’s system as a Lamar Jackson replacement — why would they let him walk? Yes, a new coaching staff is in town, but after stints in Cleveland and Miami that didn’t go as well, he might just want to stay where he has had success. Or he could go back to Cleveland, where his former offensive coordinator is now the head coach — either one.
I think any of these options would be a great fit for what the Packers are going to need in their next backup quarterback. You could argue that none are that much better than Desmond Ridder or a potential rookie they select in the draft, but draft picks this year are tight with these players’ draft status, past performance on the field and cheap contracts, I would feel much more comfortable with one of them leading the team if Jordan Love were to miss any time.
-Dan Saia
Comments (41)
deepsouth
February 19, 2026 at 10:32 am
I like the Levis and Huntley options but I'm out on Lance.
Coldworld
February 19, 2026 at 10:37 am
All things are possible, but I don’t see any of these as an obvious improvement on Ridder, whom we already have.
dobber
February 19, 2026 at 10:39 am
Mentions Desmond Ridder and I think that's the most likely outcome. I like him better than any of these options.
Oxymoron 3339
February 19, 2026 at 10:58 am
Ridder might be ok.
Oxymoron 3339
February 19, 2026 at 10:57 am
I would be ok with Gardner Minshew and draft either Jaylon Daniels (Kansas) or Taylen Green (Arkansas).
Cheezehead72
February 20, 2026 at 05:37 am
We cannot afford Minshew. We have other needs and the cupboard is almost bear.
canadapacker
February 20, 2026 at 06:29 pm
Do not waste a draft pick - rather see us pick a running back late - or a special teamer.
Brewcity_BearsFan
February 19, 2026 at 11:54 am
FWIW, I did see a piece suggesting Anthony Richardson could be an option.
Of the 3 listed, if I were GB, I would focus on Lance or Levis.
I don't think Ridder is more than a journeyman back up at best.
Lance and Levis have had injury concerns though.
Huntley has never done much outside Baltimore
GregC
February 19, 2026 at 12:17 pm
Interesting that we are talking about experienced QBs as options. The Packers have seldom gone that route in the past 20 years or so. Even Malik Willis, who played so well for us, was a young unproven (you might even say awful) QB when he came to GB.
Tyler Huntley would be perfect but will probably not be available. Trey Lance is intriguing but risky. Will Levis always looked bad to me, and the stats that are given here actually bear this out. (Average completion % league-wide has gone way up in recent years.)
Desmond Ridder still looks like our best bet, but maybe they'll draft a QB late and give him a shot at beating out Ridder for the backup job.
BuckyBadger
February 19, 2026 at 02:50 pm
I have never seen Lance play even passable, why they traded up on that one I will never get. Levis has the skill set you would look for and if MLF can help him keep the TOs down (mainly the pick 6s) he could be a very good back up. Huntley is a career back up, probably be serviceable.
I would take Levis over Ridder who appears to be a fan favorite at the time. Both where complete busts on the team that drafted them but Levis was a higher pick with a better all around skill set. Has the better arm by far.
Bitternotsour
February 20, 2026 at 10:48 pm
It doesn't speak well for Lance that Shannahan got Purdy playing like an all-pro and couldn't get squat out of Lance.
golfpacker61
February 19, 2026 at 03:06 pm
If we could get Levis for a 7th rounder, or sign Lance to a minimum deal, those are better chances for success than a late round draft QB. Anybody drafted that late has a 99% chance of being a failure. I would choose the 3rd QB that had starting experience, even if they didn't have a winning record. Levis over Lance but not by much.
I still like Ridder the most, he like Levis & Willis, hasn't been with a very good organization yet. Look what that did for Willis, he will be making $20-25 million next year. Having Ridder and one of Levis or Lance means we could trade one later in the year for draft capitol if they show any improvement.
TKWorldWide
February 19, 2026 at 04:47 pm
Levis has funny TV commercials, so that’s added value.
Swisch
February 19, 2026 at 11:02 pm
On the plus side for Matt LaFleur is his helping of Malik Willis.
Wouldn't it be great if he can do it again?
It's always fascinating to see a QB struggle in the NFL and then somehow find his way:
Bart Starr, Steve Young, Vinny Testaverde, Doug Flutie, Malik Willis, Sam Darnold ...
BuckyBadger
February 20, 2026 at 08:59 am
MLF has been very good with all his QBs. Rodgers had back to back MVPs, Love IMO is playing as good as his skills allow him and he turned around Willis. MLF has gotten the most out of all the QBs he has.
Swisch
February 20, 2026 at 09:55 am
I agree.
Also, IMHO, I think Love is a lot better than it seems most fans at CheeseheadTV rate him. Also, I think he'll get a lot better still.
He can lead the Packers to the Super Bowl.
I doubt it's a matter of him working harder. My hunch is that it's a matter of him persevering in the craft of quarterbacking and being somewhat patient in his growth.
Major Snafu
February 20, 2026 at 09:33 pm
Trade Love keep Willis. Use picks for one or two corners with size speed and tackling and you've improved this team immensely .ya I know won't happen. Neither will we get a pass rusher to help Parsons
Cheezehead72
February 20, 2026 at 05:43 am
Earlier this year I mentioned Taylor Heinicke as being an option. He is currently unemployed and has a lot of starting experience. He even has post season game time. He would be a qualified back up QB. Now maybe he is unemployed because he wants too much money to be a backup.
dobber
February 20, 2026 at 07:23 am
I think the question is: what's the goal with the backup? Is it to have someone who is going to develop and then turn into comp picks (or trade bait)? Do you want someone who is going to step in and give you a shot to win 3-4 games? Are you looking for someone to sit in that spot for 2-3 years? With Love taking his shots and missing some games, you need someone who can play, which means probably a vet with limited developmental potential.
Let's not allow ourselves to lose sight of the fact that Willis was probably a unicorn in that backup spot: there are very few backup QBs who are able to win when they play, and then turn into a guy who is going to get a chance to compete for a starter's spot and get a contract that nets you a shot at a really nice comp pick. If you're thinking, "well, now we'll just go get another Willis," you're destined to be very disappointed.
Cheezehead72
February 20, 2026 at 07:25 am
My idea of a good back up QB is one that can win half the games started.
BuckyBadger
February 20, 2026 at 09:03 am
I don't think Willis is a unicorn at all. I think MLF is great with QBs just like Shanahan and McVay who both run similar offenses. All these guys get great play out of their backups and have coached up QBs to play better than their previous spots.
For a back up you want someone that can come in and run the offense to keep your team in games. IMO you want someone that still wants to start so they have a fire under their backside to keep them improving. Most back ups don't stick around for more than a couple of years if they are any good. Ones that stay in one spot for years are usually glorified coaches.
dobber
February 20, 2026 at 09:59 am
We disagree in the sense that I think Willis sat a season and a half mostly ignored in TN, righted his own ship, and came to GB pretty much ready to go. Two weeks. He was on the roster two weeks, walked on the field, and played well. I give LaF credit for coming up with good game plans, but I don't think Willis is the product of Packers development.
Bitternotsour
February 20, 2026 at 10:49 pm
Willis had the goods all along. He needed a playbook that was designed for his strengths. He'll be great with McCarthy.
Coldworld
February 22, 2026 at 09:42 am
Willis had all the physical tools. It was the mental side that was lacking. He seems to have realized that and unlocked himself while his then team pigeonholed him and had new shiny toys that blinded them to his actual play in preseason when he actually got a few snaps. Credit to our pro scouts. That’s essentially what they said when we traded for him.
Less than 3 weeks later he started and won. LaFleur didn’t change him. In 3 weeks that’s a laughable contention. He did come up with a game plan to ease him in that deserves credit.
However, Willis showed calm, the ability to go through progressions (increasingly with time and playbook familiarity) and good decision making that unlocked the potential he was known to have in his feet and arm. Credit to Willis, our pro scouts and the FO for listening. To get Willis (as he turned out to be) for a 7th was generational.
Major Snafu
February 20, 2026 at 09:36 pm
Keep Willis dump Love he is a six or seven win qb at best. Over hyped because he's played a few decent games. Still can read a d and learned to toss the ball away when there is coverage.
golfpacker61
February 20, 2026 at 07:57 am
"I think the question is: what's the goal with the backup? Is it to have someone who is going to develop and then turn into comp picks (or trade bait)?"
Well Dobber, the answer to that part is a big YES. Why not? GB has had success turning QBs, starters and backups into important draft capitol, so why would anyone be against the possibility of develop & trading them. Ridder and Levis have not had much success winning NFL games when they have had the chance, but they have also been playing on some real $hitty teams. Both have shown flashes of good QB play even on crappy teams with meager resources.
I will say it again, college QBs that end up on terrible teams like the Brown, Jets, Titans, etc, have a much higher failure rate than other position players on those same teams. Usually they are not ready to start NFL games, but because coaches are already on the "Hot Seat", the highly drafted QBs get thrown to the wolves and get beat to $hit.
Both Ridder & Levis have starting potential, Lance has superior athletic talent to most QBs. Keep Ridder and develop him, trade a 7th for Levis and develop him, then trade 1 of them later for draft picks. What is not great about that concept. It sure beats drafting players, turning them into viable NFL talent, and watching them them walk away for virtually nothing when we cut them for financial reasons. Or can't re-sign them because we can't afford them. Either Levis or Lance will be better than a 7th round QB.
BuckyBadger
February 20, 2026 at 09:04 am
I think Ridder lacks the physical skill to be a good QB. When he was drafted I thought his ceiling was being a back up. His arm isn't strong at all. Levis has the arm to play in the NFL.
dobber
February 20, 2026 at 10:39 am
RIdder has had ball security issues...he's made bad decisions with the ball but he also fumbles. He's taken a fair number of hits (strip sacks), but for a mobile QB he doesn't secure the ball well when he runs. A lot of that SHOULD be coachable.
Coldworld
February 22, 2026 at 10:04 am
What physical atttibute does Ridder lack? I could question his ball security or decision making, but physically? He’s got a 9.6 RAS, runs a 5.52 40 at 6’3”and is pretty explosive to get off his spot. He made Bruce Feldman’s 2021 College Football Freaks List. What more do you want physically?
Arm wise, he’s got a pretty good one. I don’t think it is elite to the level of Love or Willis, but it’s good. I’d like to see him relax a bit and let rip more deep in fact. I think he tries to be too accurate deep/is too cautious. I do think he needed to add some strength and he’s not got much wiggle-he’s not a Willis level runner certainly, but he’s a top tier athlete for a QB regardless.
Mentally, he needs work and he probably needed time in the pros to slow the game down a bit: he needs to be calmer in the pocket, improve his ball protection and improve his decision making about when to run/escape and when to throw away.
He’s no given to be a reclamation star, but he does fit the LaFleur mold physically. Handle him in the manner Willis was and he might just break out. Physically though, there’s no basis to dismiss him at all.
Coldworld
February 20, 2026 at 09:20 am
To me the ideal is to have a QB who can come in and still give us a shot of the rest of the team play well. The best chance of that is a Ridder type. Fairly dependable, experienced, played on bad teams and still has a close to 50% record in terms of wins and TDs to interceptions.
Levis is more of a gamble. He may have higher upside but he just missed a season due to surgery on his throwing shoulder, so there are question marks there. He’s also only won around 25% of his games despite having a 2:1 TD ratio.
To me, Levis is a guy to invest in for next year not this. Do we want to spend draft capital to acquire that type of QB right now and commit to putting him on the 53? Ridder and Levis would be obvious poaching targets in season on the PS (even if they would agree to join it).
I don’t see us carrying 3 QBs on the active roster in season. If we keep Ridder, and that seems likely, I think we are very unlikely to trade for Levis. I suspect we go lower profile or rookie as PS fodder going into the summer.
Bitternotsour
February 20, 2026 at 09:38 am
yet, if the Packers could get another Tennessee QB for a 7th and turn him into a 3rd round comp pick, it would be hilarious...
dobber
February 20, 2026 at 09:53 am
I think what you've hit on is that we would have said something similar about Willis if he hadn't come off a very good preseason. Maybe a 7th for Willis prior to that last preseason, but it will probably take higher capital to pry away a first round QB from Tennessee or Indy at this point. We'd have to see what Levis or Richardson or some of these other guys who were drafted moderately high, but have fallen out of favor, look like then.
Swisch
February 20, 2026 at 10:06 am
I'm intrigued by Trey Lance.
He seems to have the arm and the legs to be a good QB, and maybe LaFleur can put the whole package together.
The Packers wouldn't have to risk a lot to bring him in.
Could we have a camp in which Lance and Ridder compete for the backup job?
Perhaps both would stick.
***
In a related matter, I'd like to see the NFL encourage teams to have two good backups at any given time, with all three available on game day -- with the third quarterback not counting against the number of activated players. (The same would go for a backup kicker.)
Regardless, in this day and age, it seems wise to cultivate three or four quarterbacks going into any season.
GregC
February 20, 2026 at 10:20 am
I was just thinking the same thing about QBs. There should be three of them suited up on gamedays. There should never be a situation like that playoff game a few years ago where the 49ers had both QBs knocked out of the game, so the starter, Brock Purdy, had to return to the game and mostly just hand the ball off because of his injury.
dobber
February 20, 2026 at 10:31 am
I think this could be accomplished by making the emergency QB rule an exemption from PS elevations and not count against the 53. Currently the emergency QB rule states that if you have three QB on your 53, you don't have to have the third QB as part of your active 48 to play (if the first two QB get knocked out). In a sense, it's kind of an extrapolation of the OL rule.
Just make it so that your third QB could be a third QB on the 53, or is an automatic elevation from the PS and not part of the 48, and can enter the game only if QB1 and QB2 get killed. There'd need to be some massaging of the elevation limits for QBs, but that's easily accomplished. If QB1 dies this week and you only have 2 QB on your 53, you'd need to add a QB rather than having the exemption making your PS QB your QB2 the next week, but if you have a second QB on your PS, that becomes your emergency QB3.
This happens so rarely, it's not really an issue, though.
Coldworld
February 20, 2026 at 10:37 am
If the 3rd QB is on the active roster the prior week, you can now have a 3rd emergency QB available on game days for that reason (without counting against the active list I think). Most teams have not gone that route in the regular season though. In the playoffs it’s more common and we elevated Ridder as a 3rd QB for the playoffs I believe.
GregC
February 20, 2026 at 12:48 pm
I thought the emergency QB rule was going to solve this problem, but somehow it didn't. I don't know if the league is being cheap or if this is somehow conflicting with the collective bargaining agreement or what. They just need to make it happen. It should not be that difficult.
Coldworld
February 20, 2026 at 07:02 pm
If I recall, the NFLPA blocked a plan to have a 3rd QB elevated from the PS and insisted on him being on the full roster. In the regular season most teams don’t seem to think it is worth having 3 healthy QBs active because they want the slot for players more likely to contribute as depth or as role players/ST ers.
Major Snafu
February 20, 2026 at 09:43 pm
Let's look at round six or an undrafted QB. I mean this secondary is so bad, with a totally healthy Love, the pack are 4th in the nfc north next year.
I see a brutal season ahead. Bears vikes and lions will be way better via draft and free agency. Pack need to much. Can't fix it all with loss of talent and lots of holes to fill right now.
Coldworld
February 22, 2026 at 10:24 am
There are a number of interesting, raw, QBs that are likely to be UDFAs who have the physical talent but need a lot of polishing. Kade Klubnik is one example. Great arm, track athlete who probably runs in the lower 4.4s and has some elusiveness. Cannon arm and can throw on the move. Needs time, needs discipline (bit of a gunslinger) and technical work. Ideal QB3 project.
I’d go that route. There are some other, similar but not quite as athletic projects, but he’s my current favorite did to his arm strength and true athleticism. There are safer prospects projected as day 3 picks, but none excite me as more than practice arms. I’d rather go with true upside for QB3 given a weak class.
MooPack
February 22, 2026 at 12:21 pm
This maybe an Iowa homer view and then again maybe not -
QB Mark Gronowski, Iowa
-2025 stats: 166-for-262 passing, 1,741 yards, 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions; 130 carries for 545 yards and 16 touchdowns
-Career stats: 12,049 passing yards, 103 touchdowns with 27 interceptions; 515 carries for 2,312 yards and 53 touchdowns
-Led the NCAA in passing efficiency in 2023 at South Dakota State with a 179.67 rating
-All-time winningest QB in NCAA history with 58 victories; won 49 games at South Dakota State, including the 2022 and 2023 FCS national championships; started 68 career games at collegiate level
-Won the Walter Payton Award in 2023 as the best FCS player; won the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year award the same season and was named first-team All-American
Iowa had no receivers. Leading yardage receiver TE Vonnahme had only 434 yds. The next highest was 278 yds. Iowa is a run first team, but leading rusher Moulton only had 878 yds and 5 TD's. Gronowski was second with 545 yds, but 16 TD's. This kid was the offense and a winner.