{"id":871840,"date":"2026-04-22T11:27:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T11:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/871840\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T11:27:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T11:27:18","slug":"packers-trade-pitch-secures-will-levis-as-jordan-loves-backup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/871840\/","title":{"rendered":"Packers Trade Pitch Secures Will Levis as Jordan Love’s Backup"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Will\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis throwing a pass during mandatory minicamp.<\/p>\n

The Green Bay Packers<\/a> have yet to answer their backup quarterback question after the departure of Malik Willis<\/a> to the Miami Dolphins<\/a>, but an affordable solution is staring them in the face via the trade market.<\/p>\n

Green Bay picked up its last backup quarterback from the Tennessee Titans<\/a> via a seventh-round pick in exchange for Willis. The Titans selected Willis in Round 3 of the 2022 NFL<\/a> draft before taking Will Levis<\/a> early in the second round the following year.<\/p>\n

Adam Schefter of ESPN dubbed Levis one of the top three QB trade candidates heading into this year\u2019s draft, which begins on Thursday, April 23.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who could gain interest include Colts<\/a> quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr<\/a>., Titans quarterback\u00a0Will Levis [and] Saints<\/a> quarterback Spencer Rattler<\/a>,\u201d Schefter wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Will Levis Offers Packers High-End Physical Traits, Solid Starting Experience as Backup QB\"Will<\/p>\n

GettyQuarterback Will Levis of the Tennessee Titans<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Levis has a big arm and started 21 games for Tennessee in 2023 and 2024 combined, posting a record of 5-16. He completed 61 percent of his pass attempts for 3,899 yards, 21 TDs and 16 INTs<\/a> over that stretch, while also rushing the football for 240 yards and one score.<\/p>\n

Tennessee selected QB Cam Ward<\/a> with the No. 1 pick last year and has moved on from Levis in perpetuity. He has one season remaining on his four-year rookie contract worth a total of $9.5 million<\/a> and should be available for a late Day 3 pick, perhaps in Round 6 or 7.<\/p>\n

The Packers hold the rights to the 201st pick in Round 6 and pick Nos. 236 and 255<\/a> in Round 7. Making a deal for Levis ahead of, or during, the upcoming draft should come at a minimal cost and add an extra layer of talent behind starter Jordan Love<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Levis would cost the Packers just north of $2 million against the salary cap in 2026 due to his $1.145 million base salary and a roster bonus of just over $900,000. Former third-round pick Desmond Ridder<\/a> is currently on the Packers\u2019 roster also.<\/p>\n

Packers Mentioned as Trade Suitor for Anthony Richardson During Offseason\"The<\/p>\n

GettyIndianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.<\/p>\n

Whether Green Bay decides to make a move for a backup quarterback via the trade market depends on how the team feels about Ridder moving into that role next season.<\/p>\n

While somewhat experienced with 25 appearances and 18 starts (8-10<\/a>) over the course of his four-year professional career, Ridder doesn\u2019t have the physical skill set of either Levis or Richardson.<\/p>\n

Given Love\u2019s moderate injury history and the number of contests in which Willis factored meaningfully over the past two years, it makes considerable sense for Green Bay to bring in either Levis or Richardson.<\/p>\n

The biggest differences between the two are that Richardson has a stronger profile as a rusher from the QB position and that he was a first-round pick, which means a fifth-year option is available for whichever team holds his rights to exercise prior to May 1.<\/p>\n

However, doing so would lock Richardson into his contract through 2027 at the price of nearly $22.5 million. Given his injury history and lack of success as a starter, that wouldn\u2019t make sense financially for the Packers.<\/p>\n

Of course, Green Bay could still trade for Richardson and would not be obligated to exercise that contract option. But Richardson will still cost nearly $5.4 million<\/a> on the salary cap next year given his base salary and roster bonus totals combined, which renders Levis the less expensive play.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMax Dible<\/a> covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Packers\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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