Although the Green Bay Packers addressed several needs in free agency, they still have several roster voids to fill. Specifically, the team's brass has yet to add a backup quarterback after watching Malik Willis bolt for the Miami Dolphins. Kirk Cousins would've made sense as he's a proven veteran who can step in behind center at a moment's notice. However, he's no longer an option after signing with the Las Vegas Raiders.
With Cousins no longer in the mix, the Packers will have to look somewhere else for reinforcements at quarterback. The good news is they still have options and should zero in on one in particular.
Russell Wilson makes the most sense for the Packers after missing out on Kirk Cousins
Russell Wilson remains unsigned after spending the 2025 season with the New York Giants. All things considered, he was unremarkable during his stint with the G-Men, going 69-of-119 for 831 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Couple that with the fact that Jaxson Dart is the future at quarterback in New York, and it's easy to see why Wilson got the boot.
Compounding the issue is that the 10-time Pro Bowl nod has regressed in past years and is no longer the player who made the Seattle Seahawks a contender in the late 2010s. Having said that, he's far from a slouch.
Sure, Wilson's days as a viable starter are probably behind him, but he's most definitely has a bit of football left in him. Moreover, he wouldn't get any meaningful playing time in Green Bay unless Jordan Love suffered a substantial injury.
This begs the question: What would it take for the Packers to sign Wilson? Last year, he inked a deal that could pay him up to $10.5 million if he reached the incentives, but it only had a base salary of $2 million. Green Bay could offer the 2012 third-round pick a similar contract, so unless he shows out, he'll cash in.
Why the Packers should sign Russell Wilson to back up Jordan Love
Unless your starter quarterback misses time or underachieves, the second-stringer won't get much playing time beyond mop-up duty. But that's precisely the situation the Packers found themselves in when Jordan Love had to roll with Malik Willis when Jordan Love went down.
Willis played well in relief of Jordan and was able to parlay his performance into a nice payday in free agency. Green Bay could trade for Anthony Richardson, whose massive upside remains untapped, to serve as the backup. However, he's a project at this point of his career, and his injury red flags are most definitely a reason for concern. That's where signing Russell Wilson makes sense.
Sure, Wilson is a limited player at this stage of his career, but you would know what you're getting with him, unless Richardson, who may or may not eventually turn the corner.
Again, you don't need to bring in an All-Pro with Jordan Love in the mix. You only need someone who can hold the fort if he sits out a few games. Russell Wilson could do precisely that.