With the retirement of Brett Favre, I have decided to re-evaluate the position of quarterback for the Packer Position Profiles series, as Aaron Rodgers is the new starter. I'm not going to re-do the whole blog, just a few sections.
2008 Outlook
With the aforementioned departure of Favre, Rodgers is now "the man." Rodgers will be counted on to replace some of Favre's production on the field. However, the emergence of Ryan Grant at running back significantly reduces the pressure on Rodgers. The key to Rodgers' performance will be the regression or progression of the offensive line. Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are aging, while Scott Wells, Jason Spitz, Darryn Colledge, and Junius Coston were very inconsistent last year. The key for a young quarterback's success or failure in the NFL usually depends on offensive line play. That will be the key for Rodgers. The Packers only carried two quarterbacks on their roster last season, until Rodgers' hamstring injury, but I expect the Packers to carry three this season. Craig Nall could re-sign now that he has a chance to compete for the job or the Packers could make a deal for a veteran quarterback.
The Green Bay Press-Gazette is reporting that the Packers could go after veteran quarterback to provide more leadership and mentoring for Rodgers. Among the mentioned quarterbacks are Mark Brunell, Gus Frerotte, Trent Green, Kelly Holcomb, Jamie Martin, and Vinny Testaverde. Other younger quarterbacks mentioned are Byron Leftwich, Daunte Culpepper, and J.P. Losman. In my opinion, none of these options are particularly appealing. To me, the best option would be to bring Brunell in to mentor Rodgers and be the backup. Brunell, a former Packer, does not have anything left in the tank and would not be brought in to start, giving him opportunity to be a mentor, a job I think he could handle. Signing Leftwich or Culpepper would only be necessary in an emergency, as neither of these guys really wants to be a backup, and fact is, neither are that good of a quarterback either. If need be, they could probably hold down the fort for another year or two for Rodgers, but their addition would be totally unnecessary. All I have to say about Losman is that if the Packers traded for him, Ted Thompson would lose a lot of credibility.
2008 Projected Grade: B- (down from B+)
Draft Needs
In the initial edition of PPP: Quarterbacks, I said that the Packers could take a flyer and possibly select someone like Ricky Santos or Josh Johnson in the later rounds. Now I feel that the Packers almost definitely will. With Johnson's combine performance, I do not think he would be available in later rounds and his does not seem like it would be a good fit for the Packers. His 4.4 speed would be nice, but it is not what the Packers need. I could see the Packers taking a risk on Penn State's Anthony Morelli or San Diego State's Kevin O'Connell. Both are big (Morelli is 6'4" while O'Connell is 6'6") and have great arms. The Packer taking a quarterback above the third round would be a reach in my opinion. I will predict that a quarterback will be picked between the third and fifth rounds. Johnson, Santos, Morelli, or O'Connell are the top four I see the Packers choosing from, if they do choose a quarterback.
Your thoughts on the Packers quarterback situation?
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