The Packers made official the signing of quarterback Alex McGough on Tuesday. To clear a roster spot, they released center D.J Scaife. That means McGough will be one of four quarterbacks on the roster at the start of training camp.
The team also announced the signing of tight end Luke Musgrave, the first of its second-round picks. Receiver D.J. Reed, the other second-round pick, is the team’s lone unsigned draft pick.
Time is running out, with rookies set to report for training camp on Thursday.
League-wide, there were 11 second-round picks unsigned at the start of the day, according to Spotrac. That was more than the rest of the rounds combined, with teams and agents quibbling over guaranteed money. Improving the odds that a deal is struck is the players selected directly ahead of Reed (defensive lineman Keeanu Benton by the Steelers) and after Reed (cornerback Cam Smith by the Dolphins) have signed.
When Scaife was claimed off waivers in mid-May, it was because he fit the Green Bay Way of offensive linemen capable of playing multiple positions. At the University of Miami, Scaife started 32 games at right tackle and 20 games at guard. The Packers listed him at center.
At quarterback, McGough – a 2018 seventh-round draft pick and reigning USFL MVP – joins Jordan Love, 2023 fifth-round draft pick Sean Clifford and 2018 seventh-round pick Danny Etling in a four-man position group. In the race to be Love’s backup, neither Clifford, Etling nor McGough have played an NFL snap.
A total of 69 quarterbacks started at least one game last season. That means the odds favor someone other than Love having to start at least one game this season. That means that three-man battle will be key. Will one emerge as a capable backup? Or will the Packers have to dive into what’s left of the veteran market?
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