As things stand in early February, the Green Bay Packers have eight picks in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. That number could certainly change — and will almost certainly increase — following the likely compensatory picks coming the team’s way. That’s in addition to whatever draft capital would hypothetically head to Green Bay for any potential trades that the Packers might cook up. Whatever that final number ends up being, they should spend at least one on a quarterback, and BYU’s Jaren Hall makes a heck of a lot of sense as a late Day 2 selection.
Regardless of what happens with Aaron Rodgers this offseason, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst should look to build for the future at quarterback, as he would with any position on the team. I’m of the belief that a good GM should be looking to draft a quarterback every year, given the importance of depth at the position (just ask the San Francisco 49ers). Jordan Love will be entering his fourth season in the league with plenty of promise but zero assurance that he’ll be the long-term answer, post-Rodgers, at Lambeau. There are very few certainties at quarterback, and there isn’t a Joe Burrow or Trevor Lawrence waiting for Green Bay in the middle of the first round. Therefore, the focus would be to add an experienced college quarterback who will hopefully have a shorter runway to success as a pro.
Enter Hall, who came off a Senior Bowl performance in Mobile, Ala. this past week that received mixed reviews, partially due to his limited performance coming off an injury in college. In his two years at BYU, Hall went 15-7 after succeeding Zach Wilson in the starting quarterback role. He had 31 touchdowns against just six interceptions in his senior season. Hall began his career with the Cougars as a two-sport athlete, playing baseball for two seasons before earning the starting gig and focusing solely on the gridiron. When he took over the offense’s reins, he produced the numbers you would hope for in a mid-round NFL prospect. He also managed to take care of the ball, which would be of the utmost importance for a backup in the NFL.
Age may be one of the knocks on Hall; he will be 25 years old next month. Having served a two-year mission as is customary as a BYU student, Hall is eight months older than Jordan Love, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Hall isn’t going to go in the first couple of rounds, and the Packers won’t draft him to be a franchise savior. Every GM will be looking for the next Brock Purdy, a value pick later in the draft who can provide a competent bridge for a short period of time. Hall’s experience and maturity could certainly be seen as an advantage in that scenario.
Why could Hall be a fit in Green Bay? His high-level athletic upside, impressive arm talent, and sound decision-making are three of his best attributes. All are reminiscent of why the Packers were enamored with Love coming out of Utah State. Often, the best backup quarterback is one that you wouldn’t have to alter a scheme for, and Hall seems to fit the mold of Love in that regard.
One knock on Hall is that he has a tendency to overshoot receivers when trying to push the ball downfield. When reading that, I had to chuckle to myself because it’s hard to imagine that the BYU receiving crew (no offense) could hold a candle to the speed and explosiveness that Christian Watson possesses. Overthrowing a college receiver is one thing; putting a ball outside of Watson’s capabilities is another.
The Green Bay Packers still have much to figure out for the 2023 season. With Love’s pending option still looming, there’s still a need for depth at quarterback. The team likes Danny Etling enough to keep him in the fold as a practice squad player on a futures contract. But he’s 28, so there’s still room to inject more youth into the quarterback room. Hall seems to thread the needle of what the Packers would be looking for, with the right balance of youth and experience mixed in with a skill set that could make for an intriguing backup option.
