Can Kyle McCord win the backup QB spot? (Photo: Getty, Getty)
By Mark Eckel
Is Jordan Love's backup quarterback for 2026 and beyond already on the Green Bay Packers roster?
With Malik Willis less than a month away from becoming an unrestricted free agent and almost certain to sign somewhere to be a starter, the Packers need a QB2 behind Love.
Forget this upcoming draft. One long-time college scout called it one of the worst drafts ever, especially for quarterbacks.
"There's (Fernando) Mendoza,'' he said. "And he's going No. 1. That's it. Yeah, one of the others might turn out OK. But it's your guess which one. I don't like any of them.''
Veteran Desmond Ridder, who has bounced around a bit with limited success after being a third-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2022, was signed late in the 2025 season and could be the answer, especially if he progresses in the Packers system the way Willis did.
Ridder, who will turn 27 before the 2026 season starts, has played in 25 NFL games with the Falcons and Raiders. He's also been with Cincinnati and Minnesota before signing with the Packers.
And then there's Kyle McCord.
The Syracuse product was signed to a future's contract by the Packers after spending his rookie season on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad. There are some around the league who think McCord might turn out to be for Love what Matt Flynn was for Aaron Rodgers — the perfect backup.
"He's got the big arm,'' the scout said. "That's something you can work with as a coach. He's not ready. But maybe that year (on the practice squad) helped. I'm sure it didn't hurt.''
McCord, after setting school and ACC records for the Orange in 2024, was the seventh quarterback selected in the 2025 draft when the Eagles took him in the sixth round (181st overall pick).
Two people who watched him every day in training camp with the Eagles said they loved his arm strength and his pocket presence. They agreed he needed work and time. He didn't get a lot of work, even in camp, as Philly's No. 4 quarterback. His preseason numbers didn't jump out, either (24-for-56, 191 yards, one TD, 2 Int.)
One pointed out that while he can make every throw he needed to make better decisions with the ball. That was the rap on him in college before the 6-3, 218-pound McCord transferred from Ohio State to Syracuse.
That one year with the Orange still has Syracuse fans talking. McCord completed 67 percent of his passes (391-for-592) for the record-setting 4,779 yards with 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as he guided his school to a 10-3 record and a win in the Holiday Bowl.
"They got Willis to the point where he's going to get a lot of money from someone,'' the scout said. "Now McCord can't run like Willis. He's really not mobile at all. But like I said he's got a pretty good arm. If he was in this draft he would be one of the better ones, but that's not saying much.''