Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
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Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers looks on in the second half during a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field on August 24, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers have had a slow start to the 2026 NFL offseason. Quite a few players have left the team in free agency, but Brian Gutekunst and the front office have only brought in Javon Hargrave and Skyy Moore.
Gutekunst did pull off a trade with the Indianapolis Colts to acquire linebacker Zaire Franklin. He will replace the loss of former first-round pick Quay Walker, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
One of the question marks remaining on the roster comes at the quarterback position. Jordan Love is the clear-cut starter for years to come, but Malik Willis left town to sign with the Miami Dolphins on a three-year, $67.5 million deal. Green Bay needs a new backup signal caller.
Plenty of names have been mentioned as potential options for the Packers. Among those names are Anthony Richardson and Kirk Cousins.
That being said, a surprising new prediction has come out about who Green Bay could choose for that role.
Green Bay Packers Projected to Make Surprising Quarterback Decision
Wendell Ferreira of AtoZ Sports has come up with his projection for the backup quarterback job in 2026. He thinks that Desmond Ridder will take that job.
Of course, Ridder finished out the 2025 NFL season with the Packers.
“It’s still possible that the Packers find a new backup quarterback to replace Malik Willis,” Ferreira wrote. “Right now, though, Ridder is expected to be the immediate backup, while youngster Kyle McCord tries to secure a practice squad spot.”
Ridder, a former third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons, has struggled to get his career going in the NFL.
He has played in 25 career games between the Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders, completing 63.6 percent of his pass attempts for 4,002 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Ridder has also picked up 293 yards and scored five touchdowns on the ground.
It’s not the best potential backup quarterback option, but it’s one that wouldn’t cost Green Bay much money and Ridder at least has some NFL experience.
Taking a Closer Look at Two Other Popular Backup QB Options
The Packers have been heavily connected to a trade with the Colts for Richardson. He was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but has struggled with injuries and inconsistency early in his career.
Richardson has played in 17 games across three seasons in Indianapolis. He has completed just 50.6 percent of his passes for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, while also recording 634 yards and 10 scores with his legs.
At 23 years old, it could be another Willis situation for Green Bay. Depending on the trade compensation it would take to get him, the Packers should consider taking a flier on him.
Cousins has become a popular talking point in Green Bay as well. The 37-year-old quarterback is in the final stage of his NFL career, but can still throw the football.
Last season with the Falcons, Cousins played in 10 games. He completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
It would be surprising to see the Packers sign Cousins, but on a one-year deal he would bring a lot of stability to the table behind Love.