The Green Bay Packers are built to contend for a Super Bowl in 2024. They are a young, hungry, ascending team that took a step forward much sooner than anyone anticipated last season. The roster is in very good shape after investing at safety, upgrading at running back, and with some players making significant progress. Green Bay’s front office has positioned the team to go where they haven’t been since the Obama administration – the Super Bowl.
However, one position makes fans a little uneasy during these dog days of summer: backup quarterback.
During the early portion of training camp, second-year QB Sean Clifford took most of the starter reps, with Michael Pratt handling the rest. By all accounts, neither played well. Clifford and Pratt struggled running the first-team offense and threw multiple interceptions. During practice on July 27, Clifford threw five interceptions — definitely not what you want from your de facto starter, even if it’s only camp.
That’s not to say a rough week or two of practice is a death sentence to either’s chances of becoming an effective backup quarterback this season. It’s too early to judge; the preseason hasn’t even started yet. But if the Packers are serious about taking advantage of this young and relatively cheap roster, they must shore up that position.
Backups are backups, but injuries are an unfortunate reality in football. Players get hurt, and while Jordan Love stayed healthy last year, they cannot let a Love injury that lasts three to six weeks take them out of contention. The team needs someone who can step in and keep them afloat until their $220 million leader is back.
Green Bay has four viable backup options outside of the organization.
Ryan Tannehill
Tannehill is the biggest name still on the market. The former Tennessee Titans starter might be holding out for an injury during camp to get an opportunity to start immediately. However, if that opportunity doesn’t materialize, Green Bay might be a great place for him to land on a one-year deal. Tannehill is familiar with Matt LaFleur from their time together in Tennessee, which would allow him to pick up the offense quickly.
He might also be intrigued by the opportunity to play with some of Green Bay’s dynamic, young playmakers at the skill positions. Aside from the superhuman Derrick Henry, he didn’t get to play with players like Luke Musgrave at tight end or receivers like Christian Watson and Jayden Reed in Tennessee. At age 36, he might be firmly in the “ring chaser” category of his career and ready to accept a backup role with a contending team.
Blaine Gabbert
Gabbert is not going to be the most tantalizing name out there for Packers fans. However, he brings the type of recent experience Green Bay should be looking for in a backup. Gabbert is a former first-round pick who has started 49 games in his career. He doesn’t have the most intriguing stats of all time: He has posted quarterback ratings of 22.2, 36.3, and 37.6 during three of his seasons as a starter, which is below average. However, he has a 71% career passer rating and an overall winning record as a starter.
He’s also a two-time Super Bowl champion, which he earned by backing up Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively. I’m sure he would be excited for the opportunity to earn a third Super Bowl ring. And who knows? He might even be able to teach Jordan Love a thing or two he learned from two of the best to have ever done it.
Taylor Heinicke
The Atlanta Falcons buried Heinicke on their depth chart a year after he started for the Washington Commanders. After starting four games a season ago with the Falcons, he’s now firmly third in the pecking order behind new franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins and first-round pick Michael Penix Jr.
It’s hard to see a team like the Falcons carrying three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, so they might cut Heinicke in the next few weeks and let him land with a new team. Even if they don’t, he clearly is not in their plans. Therefore, it would be worth it for Gutekunst to dangle a late-round pick for the capable backup who famously almost upset Tom Brady in a playoff game.
C.J. Beathard
Beathard is another option who might cost a late-round pick to acquire. The Jacksonville Jaguars traded for former New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones this offseason, so they have too many quarterbacks on the depth chart, similar to the Falcons with Heinicke and Penix.
The 30-year-old Beathard has seen moderate success as a starter in the NFL, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers, but the Packers wouldn’t acquire him because of his past stats. They would be looking for someone familiar with their offensive scheme and system, and Beathard has spent most of his time in the league with Kyle Shanahan. He should be able to learn the playbook quickly and be able to step in for Love if he gets injured.
Green Bay could go outside the organization if they don’t like their backup situation. However, we should expect the team known for drafting and developing to give their recent draft picks as much time as possible to show they are capable of the job.
Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt (sorry, Jacob Eason) are talented and intriguing prospects for their own reasons. They might have a long career in the NFL, and bringing in one of these other options shouldn’t necessarily signal the end of their career in Titletown. However, the 2024 Green Bay Packers should be focused on one thing, bringing home their 14th world championship, which might mean signing a free-agent backup for Love.
