Packers 2025 Draft Big Board: The Packers Expected To Draft Jordan Love’s Future Backup

Green Bay Packers on the clock - Photo by Yahoo Sports

GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) – The Green Bay Packers will have a decision to make after the 2025-2026 season about who Jordan Love’s long-term backup will be and may find him this spring during the 2025 NFL Draft.

Last summer, the Packers acquired current backup Malik Willis, who started and won two games for the Packers in 2024. However, it is unlikely that they will sign Willis to a new contract after his rookie deal expires next summer because other teams will probably be willing to pay him to be a fill-in starter similar to the $25 million two-year deal that journeymen Gardner Minshew received from the Raiders, and former draft pick Sean Clifford doesn’t seem like a likely long-term reliable option. The Packers selected former Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt in the 7th round of the 2024 draft but waived him during final roster cuts. Pratt was claimed by the Tampa Buccaneers and signed with their practice squad for the 2024 season.

Here are the top five quarterbacks the Packers will likely interview and target during the 2025 Draft.

1. Missouri quarterback Brady Cook: In 27 career starts for the Tigers, Cook threw for 34 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions while holding a career pass efficiency rating of 145.2. He was named the 2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Offensive MVP and can give the Packers a backup with lots of experience against top-tier defenses in the SEC including setting a conference record with 365 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. Currently, Cook is projected to be selected in the 6th or 7th round.
2. UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson: Jefferson is a former four-star prospect who originally committed to Arkansas and started all 12 games at quarterback for the Razorbacks as a redshirt senior in 2023, throwing for 2,107 yards and 19 TDs and rushing 161 times for 447 yards and two touchdowns. He won three out of the five games he started for the Knights before being benched in favor of freshman EJ Colson. At 6’3 227 lbs., Jefferson is one of the biggest quarterbacks in this year’s draft class and would give the Packers a no-risk option as he’s expected to be available during the 7th round or as an undrafted free agent.
3. Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan: Henigan is a dual-threat quarterback who was voted Second-Team All-AAC in 2023 and was named the 2023 TSWA Player of the Year for the Tigers. He led Memphis to a 10-2 record and a Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl victory in 2024 while throwing for 25 touchdowns, six interceptions, and over 3,500 yards last season. Henigan has a similar play style to Michael Pratt and would be a nice 6th or 7th-round option for Matt LaFleur.
4.  Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough: Shough, who stands 6’5 225 lbs., threw for over 3,100 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Cardinals this past season. He was a three-year starter at Texas Tech and had a history of turning the ball over before transferring to Louisville in 2024 but would be a solid option for the Packers in the 6th or 7th-round.
5. Florida quarterback Graham Mertz: Wisconsin fans know Mertz well from the two seasons he spent with Badgers before transferring to Florida last off-season. While he never was able to put together consistent play at the collegiate level, Mertz is still a young talent who’d be a great fit to learn and grow into the backup quarterback role while on the practice squad under new Quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion. Over his career at Wisconsin, Mertz finished with a 19-13 record, throwing 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions, and was named Academic All-Big Ten three times. He threw for just 791 yards and six touchdowns this past season before suffering a season-ending ACL tear against Tennessee in October.

The 2025 NFL Draft will be held in Green Bay on April 24-26, and the Packers will have a good look at all five of these quarterbacks during their upcoming Pro Days and this month’s NFL Combine, which begins on February 27th.