This time last offseason, the Green Bay Packers may have had the best backup quarterback in the NFL.
Fast forward 12 months and Malik Willis has signed a here-year, $67.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins, and the Packers are scrambling to shore up their backup QB position before the NFL draft.
While there’s still a few intriguing free-agent options for the team to consider — Russell Wilson, Tyrod Taylor, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Rush, Hendon Hooker — there’s one player who the Packers continually keep getting linked to.
Packers Confirm Interest in Kirk Cousins
GettyFormer Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins is just two years removed from signing a $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
Though his tenure with the team was forgettable at best, many feel Cousins has plenty left in the tank to still be a serviceable starter in the league. And with Green Bay needing a capable backup to Jordan Love, general manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed Cousins is a realistic option for the team.
“Yeah, we’ve discussed a lot of those options,” Gutekunst said about possibly trading for Cousins. “Obviously that’s a guy who’s got a lot of pelts on the wall in this league, so we’ve certainly discussed all those kind of things.”
Cousins to the Packers is Gaining Steam
GettyHead coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers talks with Jordan Love #10 during a timeout in the fourth quarter in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field.
While Cousins could presumably land a starting job elsewhere — the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals could all be interested — it could be argued Green Bay is the best backup spot for Cousins to land.
But as The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman points out, the Packers have one advantage that other teams do not: head coach Matt LaFleur used to be Cousins’ position coach.
“Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love and Malik Willis have all been backup quarterbacks for the Packers,” Schneidman wrote. “All three could be starting in the NFL come September. Green Bay really values the position, which might make it unlikely that Desmond Ridder or Kyle McCord — the only other quarterbacks on the roster besides Love — are in the No. 2 role come Week 1.
“Could one of them seize the job with a strong offseason? Sure. It wasn’t until late August 2024 that the Packers traded for Willis since their plan of backing up Love with Sean Clifford or Michael Pratt didn’t pan out. It’s not far-fetched to think Ridder and McCord will also get a fair shot.
“The idea of adding a proven veteran like Cousins, who can at least help the Packers tread water if Love goes down, might entice head coach Matt LaFleur. Cousins might (understandably) want to sign with a team whose starter is less entrenched than Love, but perhaps the idea of reuniting with his position coach from his first two years in the NFL (LaFleur) entices him, too.”
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