As the Packers head into a pivotal offseason, the biggest question looming over Green Bay isn’t just about who’s under center-it’s about who’s on the sidelines. As of Friday morning, head coach Matt LaFleur still doesn’t have a new contract extension in place, despite a week of negotiations.
But according to reports, talks have progressed to the point where it would be a surprise if LaFleur doesn’t return. Still, until pen meets paper, nothing’s guaranteed.
LaFleur’s future is the headline, no doubt. But zoom out, and you’ll see a Packers team facing a series of important decisions-especially when it comes to the quarterback room behind Jordan Love.
Malik Willis, who served as Love’s backup this past season, is set to hit free agency-and he’s not expected to come cheap. Spotrac currently projects his market value at $10.6 million annually.
That’s starter money, and it’s hard to imagine Green Bay shelling that out for a No. 2 quarterback. And frankly, they shouldn’t.
Willis has earned the attention he’s about to get. Since arriving in Green Bay via a trade with Tennessee before the 2024 season, he’s been lights out in limited action.
We’re talking about a 78.7% completion rate, 972 passing yards, six touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a sparkling 134.6 passer rating. For a backup, that’s elite production.
You could make a case he’s been the best No. 2 in the league over the past two seasons.
And let’s not forget how the Packers got here. Before trading for Willis, they gave Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt a shot during the 2024 preseason.
Neither panned out-both were eventually released. That’s what made the Willis trade (for a seventh-round pick, no less) such a savvy move.
But now, with Willis likely moving on to chase a starting job-and a well-earned payday-the Packers are back to square one at backup QB.
Desmond Ridder is still on the roster, but like Willis, he’s also not under contract for next season. That leaves the Packers with a few options: draft a developmental guy in the later rounds, or dip into the veteran free agent market.
If they go the veteran route, one name to keep an eye on is Trey Lance.
Lance, the former No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft, hasn’t lived up to the expectations that followed him out of North Dakota State. This past season with the Chargers, he struggled-completing just 47.4% of his passes for 226 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception across four games.
His career passer rating sits at 80.6. Not exactly the résumé of a surefire NFL starter.
But here’s where things get interesting: Malik Willis didn’t look like a future starter either before he landed in Green Bay. In fact, his passer rating before joining the Packers was just 49.4. Under LaFleur’s system and the guidance of the coaching staff, Willis turned his game around in a big way.
Could the same thing happen with Lance?
That’s the gamble Green Bay might consider. Lance still has physical tools-mobility, arm strength, raw upside.
What he hasn’t had is stability or consistent development. If LaFleur returns-and all signs point that way-he and his staff have already shown they can mold a struggling young quarterback into a capable, confident contributor.
So while the Packers' top priority remains locking in their head coach, the search for Jordan Love’s next backup is quietly shaping up to be one of the more underrated storylines of the offseason. Whether it’s a draft pick, a veteran like Lance, or someone else entirely, Green Bay will need a reliable Plan B in place.
Because as we’ve seen-especially in today’s NFL-you’re only as good as your quarterback room is deep.