The Green Bay Packers’ secondary has been frustratingly inconsistent over the years. There have been great triumphs, like the dominance Nick Collins showed during Green Bay’s Super Bowl run, or Jaire Alexander hitting the griddy over Justin Jefferson. On the other hand, performances like Kevin King’s or Damarious Randall‘s in the NFC Championship game have left Packers fans seething.
Now that Green Bay’s schedule is official, it’s important to break down the quarterbacks they will face. How will this young secondary fare against some of the league’s best QBs? How will they perform against the struggling signal callers?
Here are all of the opposing quarterbacks, ranked by tiers.
Tier 1: Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, Drake Maye
All of these guys could win MVP in 2026. We already saw one of the closest MVP races ever between Maye and Stafford last year, with both having career years.
Meanwhile, Allen is arguably the best quarterback in the league right now. Green Bay must generate takeaways if they want to slow these guys down. All of them command strong offenses capable of putting up 30-plus points on any given night.
Tier 2: Dak Prescott, Caleb Williams
Although Prescott and Williams are in the second tier, they both lead high-flying offenses with dynamic players at all positions. However, their occasional mistakes keep them out of the top tier, as we saw last season in big moments against each team. Williams was Superman against the Los Angeles Rams before throwing a boneheaded interception in overtime. Dak was excellent, but a subpar Cowboys defense held him back.
Tier 3: C.J. Stroud, Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, Bryce Young
All four of these guys can occasionally get hot and cold, but are capable of making big-time throws. The Packers let Bryce Young have a career day just three seasons ago (thanks, Joe Barry), and have allowed Baker to have his way in seasons past. Goff is typically efficient against Green Bay, but rarely drives winning alone.
With enough pressure, these quarterbacks will falter and give the ball away. Baker and Goff have a case to be in the tier above, but they often rely too much on weapons. C.J. Stroud could also be a tier higher, but his recent struggles are too much to overlook. After an excellent rookie campaign, Stroud and the Texans’ offense have never found a true rhythm.
Tier 4: Kyler Murray, Tyler Shough, Malik Willis
Despite this being the second-lowest tier, all three quarterbacks here have the potential to have real success next season, but each comes with significant unknowns. Malik Willis has proven to be a quality starter, but he has put himself in a less-than-ideal situation in Miami. Tyler Shough showed flashes last season and could break out as a star if certain pieces fall in the right places. That may hinge on whether Jordyn Tyson produces and whether Chris Olave stays healthy, though. Questions remain regarding Kyler Murray, the two-time Pro Bowler. He has all the weapons he needs in Minnesota, but hasn’t quite looked the same after his season-ending ACL tear in 2022.
Tier 5: Michael Penix, Geno Smith
Penix has struggled over the past two years with the Atlanta Falcons, posting a sub-60% completion rate and just 12 touchdowns in 14 total games. He does seem to be on track to start this season after suffering a partially torn left ACL last year. Bringing in Tua Tagovailoa may light a fire under the young signal caller, but it does appear he’s on a shorter leash than before.
Geno Smith, making his return to the team that once drafted him back in 2013, looks to bounce back from a horrid season with Las Vegas. Smith threw a league-high 17 interceptions to pair with a 34.1 QBR, the second-lowest in the NFL.
