If the Green Bay Packers learned anything from last season, it’s how valuable it is to have a reliable backup quarterback.
Malik Willis went 2-0 as a starter, while Jordan Love recovered from a sprained MCL. He also came off the bench in Week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, after Love exited with a groin injury, and helped rally the Packers to a 30-27 win. Without those two victories with Willis under center, the Packers wouldn’t have punched their ticket to the playoffs.
Willis is entering the final year of his rookie deal and will likely hit the open market next offseason. After his solid performances last year, he could emerge as a midseason trade candidate for a team that needs a starting quarterback. With that in mind, I’ll spotlight three prospects who could become Brian Gutekunst’s next developmental project.
Tyler Shough – Louisville
Shough’s career path is unconventional, and he will be a 26-year-old rookie. After redshirting in 2018 at Oregon, he spent the following season as Justin Herbert’s backup. He started seven games in 2020, passing for over 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns. A year later, Shough transferred to Texas Tech, where he started the first four games before suffering a broken collarbone.
He started five games in 2022 but missed six with a shoulder injury, earning Texas Bowl MVP honors. After a strong start in 2023, he suffered a broken leg and entered the transfer portal. In 2024, Shough had a comeback season, earning Honorable Mention All-ACC honors with 3,195 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown.
Shough is an experienced college quarterback with a strong ability to read through progressions. He possesses natural arm talent and can extend off-schedule plays. He’s arguably more polished than Jaxson Dart, and NFL analysts have debated how high Shough would go in the draft if he were younger.
Seth Henigan – Memphis
Seth Henigan was Memphis’ quarterback for four seasons, setting the school’s records for passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. He finished his career with a 34-16 record as the starter.
Henigan is a pocket passer with solid accuracy. Last season, he tied with Jaxson Dart for the third-most big-time throws in college football. His 11 turnover-worthy plays ranked among the 10 fewest of the 57 quarterbacks with at least 400 dropbacks. While he has a strong ability to avoid sacks, he could improve in creating off-schedule plays.
Donovan Smith – Houston
Donovan Smith transferred from Texas Tech, where he played 21 games over three seasons, and ultimately found his stride at Houston in 2023. As a junior, he started all 12 games for the Cougars, completing 64.5% of his passes for 2,801 yards and 22 touchdowns. Over the final four games, he also added 241 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His performance placed him among the Big 12’s top quarterbacks, ranking third in completion percentage and fourth in completions per game.
Smith is a highly athletic quarterback who can push the ball downfield and consistently extend plays with his escapability. He does an excellent job manipulating defenders at the second and third levels with his eyes. Smith’s skill set shows flashes of what we’ve seen from Malik Willis, and of the three prospects mentioned in this article, Smith’s game most closely resembles Willis’s.
Green Bay tends to target quarterbacks with extensive college experience and an NFL Combine invitation, both of which apply to Shough and Henigan. The Packers usually prioritize quarterbacks with extensive college experience and an NFL Combine invitation, both of which apply to Shough and Henigan. Smith is more of a hidden gem, but his athleticism and ability to create plays could bring a new dimension to Green Bay’s run game, much like Malik Willis.
