Green Bay Packers: Final 53-Man Roster Predictions

Aug 23, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) looks to pass against pressure from Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Arthur Moats (55) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback

* = starter; + = roster spot

* Aaron Rodgers
+ Scott Tolzien
+ Brett Hundley

Aug 28, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Scott Tolzien (16) runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

This spot is pretty straight-forward.

Aaron Rodgers is the top quarterback in the league, bar none. He’s coming off his second MVP award in a season he ended with an injured calf that sapped his mobility, and he still almost led his team to another Super Bowl. He’s still only 31 years old and fully in his prime. There’s no reason to think he won’t continue to stay right at the top of the quarterback rankings in the league yet again. I don’t think much else needs to be said.

Scott Tolzien has been with the team for a couple years now. You may remember him from his INT-happy games back in 2013 when Aaron Rodgers went down with that broken collarbone. Don’t stick too closely to that memory though; he has improved plenty since then. He has spent two years learning the Packers’ system on offense and should be seen as a capable backup on the unfortunate chance that Rodgers has another injury for a small time (if there’s a long-term injury, Green Bay is probably screwed of course, but you knew that already). Honestly, he could have been the top backup at quarterback last year — he did outplay Matt Flynn in the preseason pretty handily — but he’ll be even more prepared now should his number get called on in 2015. His preseason work this year has been a perfect emblem of that.

Aug 29, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Hundley (7) gets a pass away while under pressure from Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox (91) in the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Brett Hundley is the interesting piece here. His draft status (5th round) and potential finally give Mike McCarthy something he hasn’t really had in a long time: a young quarterback prospect to groom from the beginning of their professional career. He of course has had guys like Rodgers, Brian Brohm and Flynn through the draft, but one of those was a bust (Brohm), Rodgers has been starting since 2008, Flynn was a limited 7th rounder, and since the latter two were added in 2008 nobody else has been brought in with any decent development potential.

Hundley was one of the name-prospects throughout the draft coverage and has shown plenty of ability that can be nurtured into a strong backup. At the very least, he has to be looked at as a potential guy to be molded and then traded down the line to bring in more value to the team; at best, he could be the type of guy that works as the long-term backup & insurance policy in case of future injuries above him on the depth chart. If his excellent preseason work is any indication, he should be exactly that.