The Green Bay Packers have been fishing around for a veteran backup quarterback, and Kirk Cousins' name has come up — more than once. Alas, he's no longer available after reaching an agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders, per his agent, Mike McCartney of VaynerSports.
Bringing in an established veteran to back up franchise quarterback Jordan Love seems to be the Packers' preferred path. Declining arm talent and lack of mobility aside, Cousins fit that mold to a tee. However, the opportunity to be a starter with the Raiders leaves the Packers with no choice but to look elsewhere.
Green Bay was reportedly among "several teams" interested in Cousins. They "wanted" him, but he "[opted] for a likely QB1 job in Vegas," according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.
Packers' backup QB plan officially in flux after Kirk Cousins joins Raiders
Cousins will be a bridge and mentor to presumed 2026 No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas. The former will seemingly sit atop the Raiders' depth chart until the latter is ready to play. Green Bay couldn't beat this kind of offer, considering Love is firmly entrenched as their passer.
There's a legitimate case to be made for the Packers dodging a bullet by missing out on Cousins. Be that as it may, they still need an understudy for Love after losing Malik Willis to a lucrative contract with the Miami Dolphins. Suddenly, Green Bay is facing a difficult conundrum with no clear resolution.
How the Packers proceed following Cousins' decision to sign with the Raiders remains to be seen. Do they continue searching for a proven commodity or pivot altogether? The remaining free-agent signal-callers leave much to be desired, so it's worth wondering if Green Bay turns to the 2026 NFL Draft or trade options.
It feels safe to say a reunion with Packers icon Aaron Rodgers, the top guy on the open market, is off the table. Barring a drastic turn of events, he's either returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers for his age-43 campaign or retiring. That leaves Green Bay with an uninspiring cast of diminished journeymen to pick from, assuming they're still seeking an experienced No. 2 behind Love.
May we interest you in Russell Wilson, who's hoping to latch onto his fourth club in as many seasons? How about Tyrod Taylor, an inaccurate thrower with an extensive injury history? There's also Jimmy Garoppolo, though he has physical limitations and health concerns.
Perhaps Green Bay tries to get creative. They've been connected to Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts amid his uncertain future. He'd make for an intriguing reclamation project with incredibly high upside.