GREEN BAY \u2014 As it turned out, the Green Bay Packers\u2019 quarterbacking stars were not, in fact, aligned last season.<\/p>\n
Jordan Love turned 27 years old during his sixth NFL season in 2025, and it just so happened that his two Pro Football Hall of Fame-worth predecessors, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, had won the Super Bowl during their age-27, sixth seasons \u2014 as Favre won Super Bowl XXXI with the 1996 team, and Rodgers won Super Bowl XLV with the 2010 team in their sixth years in the league.<\/p>\n
It was written in the stars, right?<\/p>\n
Wrong.<\/p>\n
The 2025 Packers, of course, fell well short of a trip to Super Bowl LX, losing their final four regular-season games before blowing an 18-point halftime lead in their NFC wild card playoff loss to the archrival Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Jan. 10.<\/p>\n
Although Love certainly did his part against the Bears, completing 24 of 46 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns (103.8 rating) in the 31-27 defeat, he now heads into 2026 well aware that it is time to do more.<\/p>\n
While the Packers have reached the postseason in all three of Love\u2019s years as the starting quarterback, they\u2019ve won just one playoff game \u2014 his first, when he dismantled the Dallas Cowboys on the road in January 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought Jordan played really, really good football \u2014 some of his best football, especially down the stretch,\u201d Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said earlier this offseason. \u201cHe continues to be an unbelievable leader for our football team. [I] couldn\u2019t speak more highly of what I think about Jordan and where he\u2019s headed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs good as he\u2019s been for us, I do think he’ll continue to get better because it\u2019s important to him and he works at his craft. He\u2019s always looking for another edge. So, I feel really good about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Love finished the year with a 101.2 passer rating (5th in the NFL among qualifying players), a 66.3% completion percentage (11th), 3,381 yards (13th), 23 touchdowns (tied for 14th) and a career-low six interceptions (tied for second-fewest) in 15 starts.<\/p>\n
Love left the Packers\u2019 Dec. 14 loss at Chicago midway through the second quarter with a concussion, then sat out the team\u2019s loss to the Baltimore Ravens the following week after not clearing the concussion protocol. He was active and dressed for the regular-season finale at Minnesota but did not play as the Packers used their JV team and threw third-string quarterback Clayton Tune to the wolves \u2014 and the Vikings\u2019 top-flight defense \u2014 with nothing to play for.<\/p>\n
Now, the Packers are counting on him to take another step forward \u2014 and stay healthy, after losing arguably the best backup QB in football to free agency \u2014 in 2026.<\/p>\n
While he may never replicate the Rodgers-esque heater he went on late in the 2023 season \u2014 when he completed 70.3% percent of his passes, had a 112.7 passer rating and an 18-to-1 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio over the final eight regular-season games \u2014 he knows he needs to elevate his game.<\/p>\n
And so does head coach Matt LaFleur, who continues to give Love more and more responsibility within the game plan and more flexibility at the line of scrimmage to make adjustments.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing to work with Jordan Love every day is a pretty cool deal. I think he\u2019s an unbelievable quarterback, but an even better guy,\u201d LaFleur said at the NFL Meetings, where he also said he plans to \u201cstrip everything down\u201d on offense and take a \u201cYear 1 all over again\u201d approach to this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe provide a ton of freedom for him. I feel pretty comfortable with, if he sees something, he\u2019s going to do it. \u2026 He\u2019s got free rein, and certainly that\u2019s something we talk about throughout the course of the week. I\u2019m in all those meetings with him, so we\u2019re on the same page in regards to, if he has an idea, then absolutely [we\u2019ll listen to it].\u201d<\/p>\n
The Packers lost backup Malik Willis in free agency, as he joined the Miami Dolphins \u2014 with ex-Packers staffers Jon-Eric Sullivan as their GM and Jeff Hafley as their defensive coordinator \u2014 after resurrecting his career and saving the Packers\u2019 2024 season with his outstanding play when called upon.<\/p>\n
In his stead, the Packers have ex-Atlanta Falcons starter Desmond Ridder, whom they picked up late in the year, and former Philadelphia Eagles fifth-round pick Kyle McCord to vie for the backup job behind Love.<\/p>\n
The hope is that Ridder, who started 17 games for the Falcons (and one for the Las Vegas Raiders), can reverse his NFL fortunes in Green Bay the way Willis did.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t have him for very long, but [we were] very excited when he was with us, and certainly we\u2019ve scouted him over a number of years,\u201d Gutekunst said. \u201cHe brings some elements we would like in a backup quarterback. I think he\u2019s got a little bit of upside. I don\u2019t think he\u2019s hit his full potential yet. So, I\u2019m excited about that. But there\u2019ll be competition in there for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked before the season ended what he thought of his potential opportunity with Willis expected to depart and how he was getting a head start on competing in 2026, Ridder replied, \u201cObviously, just being able to be in here and get the playbook is a huge advantage. \u2026 It’s just about, when given the next opportunity, going out and taking advantage of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for McCord, who played collegiately at Ohio State and Syracuse, Gutekunst said the Packers \u201cliked his moxie\u201d and his pedigree as a winner.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the scouting process, [we] always had an eye on him,\u201d Gutekunst said. \u201cWhen he became available, we thought it made some sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Packers depth chart<\/p>\n
10\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jordan Love\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 219\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 27\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Utah State<\/p>\n
18\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Desmond Ridder\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 211\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 26\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cincinnati<\/p>\n
6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kyle McCord\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 218\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 23\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Syracuse\u00a0<\/p>\n
Best in class | Fernando Mendoza, Indiana.<\/p>\n
The Raiders appear set to take Mendoza, who led the Hoosiers to the national championship and won the Heisman Trophy this past season. Mendoza, who threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns with six interceptions last season, didn\u2019t throw at the annual NFL scouting combine but put together an impressive performance at his on-campus pro day workout in Bloomington last week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mendoza, who spent his first three college seasons (including a redshirt in 2022) at California before his one season with the Hoosiers, will have to grow into the NFL game after playing in an run\/pass option-heavy offense where he frequently threw to his first read and was lined up in the shotgun on the vast majority of snaps.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m putting all of my efforts toward just trying to be the best quarterback possible for the season,\u201d Mendoza said after the pro day workout. \u201cBut I know at the next level, there’s going to be a lot more snaps under center, and that’s a big adjustment. I need to get used to that and just the nature of the game. Not only that, the hash [marks] are more condensed and the speed of the game is faster. So, all those things I look forward to learning.”<\/p>\n
Next men up | Ty Simpson, Alabama; Garrett Nussmeier, LSU; Drew Allar, Penn State; Cole Payton, North Dakota State; Carson Beck, Miami (Fla.).<\/p>\n
Pick to click | Jack Strand, Minnesota State-Moorhead.<\/p>\n
A Wisconsin native, Strand grew up in Bloomer, where he was a standout quarterback for the Blackhawks but didn\u2019t draw much Division I interest while playing at a small school in a run-heavy offense.<\/p>\n
He landed at Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead, where he was a four-year starter and was a finalist last year for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is awarded to the best player in DII.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-4, 243-pound Strand finished his career having thrown for 13,161 yards and 126 touchdowns, earning a spot in the American Bowl all-star game. He worked out for NFL scouts at North Dakota State\u2019s pro day last month.<\/p>\n
Strand figures to be a seventh-round pick or priority free agent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest thing for me is kind of staying where my feet are. I don\u2019t want to look too far in the future and what could happen,\u201d Strand told WDAY-TV, the ABC affiliate in Fargo, North Dakota, after his pro day. \u201cThat\u2019s kind of my mentality this whole time, just being in the moment because this is an opportunity you only get one time.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo go through this whole process, have a chance to talk with all these different coaches from different teams … I just kind of stay in the moment and then when that phone call comes, I\u2019ll be ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
History lesson | If it seems like Gutekunst says every offseason that he wants to draft a developmental quarterback each year, that\u2019s because he usually does. But not this year, and with only eight selections at the moment following Friday\u2019s trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, Gutekunst is more likely to fill other roster holes with picks \u2014 unless a signal-caller with a higher-round grade is still on his board toward the end of Day 3.<\/p>\n
The philosophy of taking quarterbacks often dates back to Pro Football Hall of Fame GM Ron Wolf, who famously traded 1992 first-round draft pick to the Atlanta Falcons for Favre. Even after that career-making trade, Wolf still chose seven other quarterbacks in his nine years in full control of the Packers\u2019 draft board.<\/p>\n
While they scarcely played during their Packers careers, three of those quarterbacks turned into trade bait and future starters with other clubs: Mark Brunnell, a 1993 fifth-round pick who was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for third- and fifth-round picks in the 1995 draft; Aaron Brooks, a 1999 fourth-round pick Aaron Brooks who was dealt to the New Orleans Saints during training camp in 2000 for a third-round pick in the 2001 draft; and Matt Hasselbeck, a 1998 sixth-round pick who was sent to the Seattle Seahawks along with the 17th overall pick before the 2001 draft in exchange for the 10th overall pick and a third-round pick.<\/p>\n
After Wolf\u2019s retirement, head coach\/GM Mike Sherman drafted just one QB during his four years as coach\/GM. And while Ted Thompson\u2019s decision to take Rodgers gave the Packers three decades of virtually uninterrupted greatness at quarterback, Thompson only took five other QBs in his subsequent 12 drafts \u2014 and two of them, second-round pick Brian Brohm and seventh-round pick Matt Flynn, were selected in the 2008 draft, after Favre and announced his retirement and Rodgers had ascended to the starting job.<\/p>\n
Heading into his ninth draft, Gutekunst has picked only three QBs: Love in the first round in 2020, Sean Clifford in the fifth round in 2023, and Michael Pratt in the seventh round in 2024.<\/p>\n
PACKERS 2026 NFL DRAFT PREVIEW SCHEDULE<\/p>\n
Sunday, April 12 \u2014 QUARTERBACKS<\/p>\n
Monday, April 13 \u2014 RUNNING BACKS<\/p>\n
Tuesday, April 14 \u2014 WIDE RECEIVERS<\/p>\n
Wednesday, April 15 \u2014 TIGHT ENDS<\/p>\n
Thursday, April 16 \u2014 OFFENSIVE LINEMEN<\/p>\n
Friday, April 17 \u2014 DEFENSIVE LINEMEN<\/p>\n
Saturday, April 18 \u2014 EDGE RUSHERS<\/p>\n
Sunday, April 19 \u2014 LINEBACKERS<\/p>\n
Monday, April 20 \u2014 CORNERBACKS<\/p>\n
Tuesday, April 21 \u2014 SAFETIES<\/p>\n
Wednesday, April 22 \u2014 SPECIALISTS<\/p>\n
Thursday, April 23 \u2014 DRAFT DAY PREVIEW<\/p>\n
\u200bCOPYRIGHT 2026 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"GREEN BAY \u2014 As it turned out, the Green Bay Packers\u2019 quarterbacking stars were not, in fact, aligned…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":864587,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1586,6461,2945,4659,10206,3619,7,345,112053,1724,1180,4097,3031,122,6,15,46938],"class_list":{"0":"post-864586","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl-draft","8":"tag-aaron-rodgers","9":"tag-brett-favre","10":"tag-brian-gutekunst","11":"tag-clayton-tune","12":"tag-desmond-ridder","13":"tag-fernando-mendoza","14":"tag-football","15":"tag-green-bay-packers","16":"tag-jack-strand","17":"tag-jordan-love","18":"tag-kyle-mccord","19":"tag-malik-willis","20":"tag-matt-lafleur","21":"tag-national-football-league","22":"tag-nfl","23":"tag-nfl-draft","24":"tag-ron-wolf"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116390367315957247","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=864586"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864586\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/864587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=864586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=864586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=864586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}