The Green Bay Packers have made their intentions clear at the quarterback spot. Jordan Love is their starter heading into 2023 and hopefully beyond as the team worked out an extension with him this offseason.
That extension will likely keep him as the starter through at least 2024, at which point the franchise will know whether or not he is their long-term answer. However, Green Bay better hope that Love is durable because their depth chart behind him is shaky, to put it nicely.
Love is the only quarterback currently on the Packers’ depth chart that has started or thrown a single pass in the NFL. Right now the backup quarterback job is going to be up for grabs between 2018 seventh-round pick Danny Etling and 2023 fifth-round pick Sean Clifford.
The Packers would be in dire straits should something happen to Love and they were forced to turn to Etling or Clifford. It is surprising that they haven’t brought in a veteran with some more experience as an insurance policy to at least compete for the backup job.
But, that is something that Bill Barnwell of ESPN believes will change now that the NFL Draft has surpassed us. He believes that Carson Wentz is going to eventually sign a deal with the Packers to become the backup to Love.
That would be an excellent signing for Green Bay. It wasn’t long ago that Wentz was regarded as the franchise quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. While he wasn’t able to consistently replicate the success he had prior to being injured in 2017, he would represent a great option for what the Packers need.
If the need arose for someone to step into the lineup for Love, Wentz would be more than capable of providing some spot duty. While his overall body of work over the last two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders isn’t overly positive, there are some highlights mixed in.
Wentz has come to a crossroads in his career. He likely isn’t a long-term answer for a franchise under center as his issues are well documented. But he has the skill set and capabilities to be a very good backup, capable of saving and keeping a team’s season afloat should the starter be forced to miss a few games.
There are some risks to signing Wentz, as he has been passed on by three different organizations in three seasons. But, as things are currently situated, the Packers season would be over with a Love injury. Having Wentz on the roster would at least provide them a chance to remain competitive in the chance Love is forced to miss time.
