The Green Bay Packers were pretty happy with their backup quarterback position entering 2017. They had what they presumed would be a future starter somewhere in the NFL in Brett Hundley behind Aaron Rodgers.
In fact, they were so confident in Hundley that they turned down a trade offer for him during the 2017 draft. In doing so, they figured they would increase their compensation by waiting.
And my god, how wrong they were.
Once Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone, both Hundley and the Packers’ braintrust were exposed. Hundley went 3-6 as a starter and threw 12 interceptions against just nine touchdowns. Not a single one of those touchdowns came in a game at Lambeau Field.
So now we know Brett Hundley is garbage. And now the Packers have no chance of trading him. What’s the next move?
The next move would appear to be to find another option. One that would allow the Packers to compete if Rodgers goes down again. That doesn’t mean another draft pick. It doesn’t mean another unproven guy or preseason hero. It means a veteran.
You really don’t have to look any further than the Minnesota Vikings or Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams won with backup quarterbacks at the helm in 2017 — Case Keenum and Nick Foles, respectively. Both veteran guys with starting experience.
The question is, will the Packers make the move for such a veteran presence? General manager Brian Gutekunst isn’t opposed to it.
“I obviously like our quarterback group quite a bit but I think competition is always a good thing,” Gutekunst said. “If that makes sense, if the right veteran is out there that I think can help bring the group up, then I think we’d certainly consider it.”
Who is the right veteran?
People keep talking to me about Teddy Bridgewater. The Minnesota Vikings do seemingly have a surplus of quarterbacks with Bridgewater, Keenum and Sam Bradford. All of them have started. All three are set to be free agents. Who do the Vikings re-sign?
The smart money says Keenum or Bridgewater, who they drafted in the first round. If the Vikings don’t re-sign Keenum, he will get a starting job elsewhere. So that probably puts the injury-prone Bradford as the best option. Even if Bridgewater is available, he’s not going to be looking to take a backup job.
What I might look for is if the Bills release Tyrod Taylor. He’s inconsistent, but he was able to get that team to the playoffs this season. The Bills will be looking to make a change, however, so Taylor could be available.
Or, here are some other names. Guys who will actually be free agents and would be fine with a backup role: Josh McCown, Ryan Fitzpatrick and, two of my favorites — Scott Tolzien and… wait for it… Jay Cutler!
I mean, the Packers should make a run at Jay Cutler just based on principle, shouldn’t they?
More realistically, I could see them bringing back Scott Tolzien over any of the other options, however. Don’t forget…
Scooter has got some moves!
7 Comments
While he may have the best spin move of any white guy I’ve ever seen, I don’t want him as a backup. I recall an outcome that was only marginally better than the Hundley experience.
Thumbs up for Bradford, McCown, Fitzpatrick, maybe Taylor.
While I agree with you, the Hundley experience was way worse. He had 3 years in this system. Scooter didn’t even have a training camp under his belt with the Packers, and arguably had better results than Hundley.
As not great as Hundley was, gaining a veteran who doesn’t tilt the field like Rodgers or Favre when he gets in a game is like having a lead and sitting on it, playing not to lose.
And what usually happens when you do that?
Those teams lose by stopping being aggressive on offense, especially versus New England.
Yes the Packers need a better backup, but I would rather the Packers take a chance on the next star, than acquire a
“proven-no-advantage-over-the-opponent QB”
to hope somehow he gains abilities he never had– and wins more than he loses.
Somehow, someone in Green Bay saw a playmaker in Taysom Hill.
So did the Saints.
Last preseason, when Hill made plays, scored multiple TDs at Lambeau — in very few attempts…
After Hill tilted the field and Hundley didnt last preseason, someone, probably McCarthy, was too invested in Hundley via draft round or 3 yrs on the bench, to do the right thing, and cut Hundley and keep Hill. They were biased, I was appalled, when they cut Hill anyway and kept Hundley.
The Saints, who hit on multiple playmakers this last draft, saw what we all saw, that Hill was dominant, and they snatched him up.
The Saints Round 3 (Pick #67 overall):
Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
I would bet that Hill had more TDs in Lambeau, running and passing, thsn Hundley had in all his games, preseason and regular season.
Yes the Packers need a better backup, but not a veteran, they need ti admit their mustakes for a change, and do it through actions.
Getting a veteran … is them admitting that their 3 yrs of teaching Hundley learning behind Rodgers, teaching snd developing, is simething they suck at.
I really liked what Hill brought to the table, but he also did play against third stringers during the preseason. As we saw with Hundley, preseason stardom is in no way an indicator of future success. The saints and Sean Payton obviously saw something with him though so we will see.
First – Hey, Mr. Gutekunst, I am available. You can count on me throwing exactly the same number of TD passes at Lambeau Field as Hundley.
But seriously, remember that Jim McMahon has 2 Super Bowl rings, 85 Bears and 96 Packers
I thought Hundley was trade bait. Am i the only one who saw his 2015 pre-season dominance?
The thing which always impressed me about Tolzien was everytime you saw a sideline shot of McCarthy & Rodgers Tolzien was right there listening to everything going on. He may not have the skills but he seemed to show the smarts for the position. I would take him over Hundley for the short term, plus he could be had on the cheap, or bring in another veteran and draft someone in the lower rounds as a project. Wolf drafted a qb every year. Good habit to get into. Never know when that next 5th or 6th rounder becomes the next Brady.