The Green Bay Packers are set at starting quarterback. Jordan Love is taking over for future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. However, the backup quarterback position leaves a lot to be desired.
Currently, Green Bay has Danny Etling and 2023 NFL Draft pick Sean Clifford as the backup options. Etling has been on the rosters or practice squads for seven NFL teams since he was drafted. In other words, he does not seem like a trustworthy backup option in the event Love gets hurt.
Clifford was a fifth-round pick, but many NFL Draft experts did not think he warranted a pick at all. Indeed, he does not seem like a quality backup option either.
One current free-agent quarterback who could install some faith at backup quarterback is Teddy Bridgewater. Once a member of the division-rival Minnesota Vikings, Bridgewater has bounced around the NFL since tearing his ACL early in his career.
During his travels, he has been the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers. He has also served as a suitable backup for the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report wrote of the potential match between Bridgewater and the Packers:
There are two notable veteran quarterbacks with starting experience still on the market in Teddy Bridgewater and Carson Wentz. The former has already played the role of veteran backing up a young up-and-coming quarterback, while the latter has been traded or released by his previous employers when he didn’t live up to the role of starter.
Bridgewater was a fine secondary option behind Tua Tagovailoa and kept the Miami Dolphins offense afloat in his absence last season.
The 30-year-old could do the same thing for the Packers and ease the burden on Love to remain healthy for the team to be competitive.
When Tagovailoa went down with concussion issues, Bridgewater started two games. Miami was 0-2 in those contests, but Bridgewater was not bad. He threw for four touchdowns and four interceptions while carrying a passer rating of 85.6.
When he was the backup for New Orleans in 2019, Bridgewater had to make five starts. The Saints won all five, and he threw nine touchdowns and two interceptions while posting a quarterback rating of 99.1.
The problem with the idea of signing a veteran, though, is that Green Bay is really dedicated to the youth movement that it has started. If the Packers wanted a veteran quarterback to back up Love, they would have gotten one already.
Furthermore, the Packers are ever a cap-conscious organization. If they can save money on this year’s and next year’s cap by keeping either Clifford or Etling as their backup, that is what they will do.
More must-reads: