Ben Solak mocks Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green to the Packers in the fifth round, and that scenario actually makes a lot of sense if Green Bay is willing to invest in the position once again.
The Green Bay Packers need a backup quarterback after losing Malik Willis in free agency
, so it's natural that the team will be connected with prospects in the pre-draft process. From a mention as an ideal fit for Cole Payton
to a top-30 visit with Behren Morton
, Green Bay could look for alternatives on Day 3 or as an undrafted.
Now, ESPN analyst Ben Solak
mocked Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green to the Packers in the fifth round. An insanely athletic player, he is 6'6, 227 pounds, and has a high ceiling due to his strong arm and ability to get yards with his legs. That creates some comparisons to quarterbacks like Randall Cunningham, Anthony Richardson
, and even Colin Kaepernick
- not as much about quality, but about the style of play.
Curiously, his throwing mechanics are a little wonky - and it reminds us of how Jordan Love
played at Utah State, for good or bad.
Ben Solak mentions that Green is an intriguing prospect due to his ceiling, even though he would certainly demand development time.
"Figuring out the range for Green is very tricky. He was a historically athletic quarterback at the combine, with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, a 43½-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot-2 broad jump. It's easy to draw comparisons to quarterbacks such as Anthony Richardson Sr. and Cam Newton
, but they're easily recalled because both also had the film to go in Round 1. Green doesn't.
"His throwing mechanics are extremely rough, making him more reminiscent of Colin Kaepernick than Richardson or Newton. Green's accuracy is predictably scattershot, and his inconsistency hitting layups makes it tough to build a reliable passing game around him. As such, any offense fielding Green would need to rely heavily on the QB running game; he should see 10-plus carries in any game he plays, a league-leading rate." - Ben Solak
As Solak mentions, the Packers have prioritized athletic quarterbacks under Matt LaFleur - but more than that, this is the style general manager Brian Gutekunst tends to prioritize. It's not a coincidence that he traded for players like DeShone Kizer and Malik Willis .
The idea behind those players, like the Packers did with Jordan Love himself, is that LaFleur and his coaching staff will be able to polish them mechanically and technically, allowing them to become the best versions with the tools they have.
It's questionable if, with limited draft resources, the Packers would be willing to spend a fifth-round pick on a backup, developmental quarterback. But if they are, and they see the upside on Green, he could be an intriguing option to become a real contributor throughout his rookie contract.
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