Should the Green Bay Packers address backup QB?
The Green Bay Packers enter the 2015 offseason with several pressing needs that are guaranteed to impact their 2015 performance, but if a worst-case-scenario arises next year, the decision they make at backup QB could be one of their most important. After struggling with a calf injury through 2014 and missing seven games the year prior with a broken collarbone, a quality insurance policy is needed for Aaron Rodgers.
Their franchise player is getting no younger, has shown a tendency to scramble into the open field and isn’t exactly built like Ben Roethlisberger. While the backup QB may very well not see a meaningful snap for several years, the Green Bay Packers may choose to upgrade the position with Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien both set to hit free agency.
Tolzien may return as a third-string option that doesn’t suit up on game days, but I won’t consider him for anything more than that. In the coming weeks, we’ll explore some later-round quarterbacks that the Packers may consider to give Mike McCarthy a development project, but what if Ted Thompson decides to dip into free agency?
The market this offseason is flush with B and C-level QB options, so this isn’t a bad time to address the position. While some younger rebuild candidates like Jake Locker or, dare I say it, Christian Ponder may appeal to some teams, I expect the Packers to to pursue an option with some level of stability and certainty. The organization does not need a high-priced upgrade at the position, but they do need a player capable of winning.
Veteran options such as Jason Campbell, Matt Moore and Shaun Hill should all find backup roles by 2015, but there is one name that I will be watching through this offseason: Colt McCoy.
Entering the 2012 season with only Seneca Wallace behind Aaron Rodgers, the Packers were reportedly very interested in McCoy and spoke to the Cleveland Browns about trading for the former Texas standout. Ted Thompson rarely dabbles in the trade market involving players, and I don’t expect that his interest in McCoy has completely evaporated over the past two seasons.
McCoy is built to be a backup, and that’s not meant to be an insult. He has a very small arm, but has the ability to hit most short and intermediate routes if given the time. While a team would be out of their mind to start McCoy, I trust him to carry the weight for a few games with a quality team around him and avoid handing the game away. He was guilty of doing this in his Cleveland days, but a layover in San Francisco and some action in Washington this past offseason showed growth in his game.
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Playing behind an undesirable offensive line, McCoy appeared in five games for the Redskins, starting four, and completed 71.1% of his passes. His season was highlighted by a win over the Cowboys in Dallas, where he completed 25/30 passes for 299 yards and 1 INT. While he may be looking for a situation like the Buffalo Bills where playing time is up grabs, Green Bay could be a great fit for McCoy if a desire to win, or a few extra dollars, could sway his decision.
Matt Flynn may still remain as the likeliest option for Green Bay, though, if the 29-year old chooses to re-sign. Flynn closed out a handful of games in 2014, but saw five games with four starts in 2013 following the collarbone injury to Rodgers. In that stretch Flynn went 2-2, completing 61.4% of his attempts for 7 TD and 4 INT. While McCoy has a weak arm himself, Flynn’s is among the weakest in the league and there have been concerns about structural damage in his throwing elbow that the Packers will want to clear up.
Keep in mind that Flynn was a 7th round selection, so a very capable backup can be found during the draft where Ted Thompson prefers to do most of his work. Green Bay will need a veteran in the short-term, however, if Aaron Rodgers does go down with an injury. A 16-game season is very delicate, and the Packers cannot afford to let a game slip away due to poor depth at their most important position.