So far, the Green Bay Packers have done nothing to replace Malik Willis in the quarterback room. Free-agent options like Kirk Cousins and Kyler Murray are off the board. Anthony Richardson trade buzz has cooled. As the roster stands now, fans can look forward to a training camp battle between Desmond Ridder and Kyle McCord for the right to back up Jordan Love.
The Packers could, of course, add a quarterback in the draft. With other needs taking priority, any pick they spend on a passer would likely come in the final rounds. ESPN's Ben Solak sees Arkansas Razorbacks QB Taylen Green as an intriguing match, mocking him to Green Bay in the fifth round at 160th overall.
Green fits the Willis prototype as an athletic runner, a skill set the Packers value in their QB2s, but another consideration that should give them pause. Simply enough, they have a version of Green on the roster right now in Ridder.
As a late-round pick, especially, it's difficult to envision Green giving the Packers much more than what they already have.
Packers unlikely to add appreciable upside by drafting Taylen Green
In itself, taking a flyer on Green is not an uninteresting proposal. Despite pedestrian passing stats, the legs that churned through 35 career rushing touchdowns produced a blazing 4.36 40-time at the NFL Combine. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 224 pounds, Green earned an athleticism score of 99, first among all testing QBs. As an elite athlete and potential weapon on designed run plays, he could strike an NFL team's fancy.
The Packers would seem to be one such franchise, but the thing is, Ridder is essentially a more proven version of what Green is as a prospect. Although less eye-popping athletically, Ridder also tested well at the combine, as Solak observes. Back in 2022, his athleticism score of 88 also ranked first at the position.
In college, Ridder demonstrated a similar ability to make plays with his legs. For the Cincinnati Bearcats, he compiled 28 rushing touchdowns while proving to be a superior passer.
Throwing for 30 touchdowns as a senior, Ridder posted a TD-to-interception ratio of 3.1 versus Green's 1.7 and went 74th overall to Atlanta in the draft. His overall prospect grade of 6.36 bests Green's mark of 6.00. Ridder hasn't panned out as a starter, but having 18 NFL starts under his belt isn't nothing.
With Green in the mix or not, Ridder would be an easy favorite to win the backup job among the Packers' current options.
While Solak does not rule out the possibility that the Arkansas senior has his name called earlier, he classes him as "a longer dart throw who goes in the middle of Day 3." It's also possible that he remains available into the seventh round. Could he go undrafted altogether? Pro Football Focus ranks Green as its 246th overall prospect. Pro Football Network lists him at 244.
Despite his unique appeal, spending anything but a seventh-round Hail Mary on Green would feel like a wasted pick.