The Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins share a QB3 conundrum. If the cards fall just right in the wildly unpredictable days that lie ahead, the Packers might solve their problem and reunite Matthew Golden with his college quarterback.
Miami drafted Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers in the seventh round this year, but with veteran Zach Wilson locked in as the QB2, can the Dolphins find room on the 53-man roster for the rookie?
The Packers have Jordan Love and Malik Willis locked in as their top two, but neither Taylor Elgersma nor Sean Clifford ran away with the QB3 job. If Ewers becomes available, he could become the developmental third quarterback the Packers need. What must happen for the many unpredictable pieces to fall into place? Let's break it down.
How a Matthew Golden-Quinn Ewers reunion can become a reality in Green Bay
It begins with Miami's decision. Ewers bounced back from a disastrous preseason debut to finish the summer on a positive note, completing 18 of 25 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the final two exhibition contests.
Can the Dolphins find room on the 53-man roster? That's the million-dollar question. Well, more like the $6 million question, as that's how much money they guaranteed Zach Wilson to back up Tua Tagovailoa this season. If the Dolphins believe Ewers can eventually supplant Wilson as the No. 2, they will need to find a way to keep three quarterbacks on their 53.
That remains to be seen. If Miami tries to sneak Ewers onto its practice squad, it could open the door for Green Bay.
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The Packers likely can't afford to keep three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, and Ewers isn't replacing Willis as the backup this season. They would need Ewers to clear waivers before offering him a chance to join their practice squad.
But they have a strong argument to convince him, should it get that far.
Few teams can develop quarterbacks like the Packers. Look at Jordan Love. Aaron Rodgers. Watch Willis play and compare that to his performances in Tennessee. Green Bay has an incredible track record at the position and an offense that maximizes its QB talent.
The Packers could also sell Ewers on what's around the corner. Willis' contract is up at the end of the season, and he will undoubtedly want to compete for a starting job elsewhere. That could open the No. 2 job in 2026.
Elgersma could be the developmental quarterback the Packers believe they can develop on the practice squad, but he is still a long way off from being ready for regular-season action. Elgersma made some impressive plays in the preseason, but he is still adapting to the speed of the game. The rookie completed six of eight passes for 33 yards and a touchdown in the finale.
There's every chance the Packers' next QB3 isn't on the roster yet.
It's a long shot, but a scenario could exist where the Packers reunite Ewers with Golden. They became a dominant connection at Texas last season, with Golden catching 58 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns, a run that launched him into the first round.
Ewers would also reunite with pass-rusher Barryn Sorrell, another Packers rookie from Texas.
It has to line up perfectly, beginning with the Dolphins' decision. But if Ewers becomes available and is willing to join the Packers' practice squad, it's a move that can benefit everyone. Ewers would get the necessary time (and quality coaching) to develop, with the promise of potentially becoming Love's backup a year from now.
And as an added bonus, he'd get to rebuild his connection with Golden.