Packers Backup QB Battle Just Took On More Weight Behind Jordan Love

As the Green Bay Packers aim to refine their quarterback hierarchy before the 2026 season, former Heisman contender Kyle McCord's spot on the roster hangs in the balance.

The Green Bay Packers are still sorting out their quarterback picture, and Kyle McCord is suddenly the name hanging in the balance.

With Malik Willis gone in free agency, Green Bay is trying to settle the backup job behind Jordan Love. That leaves a real opening in the room, but it does not necessarily mean McCord is safe. In fact, one recent assessment says the opposite: he could be out before Week 1.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay recently broke down realistic expectations for second-year quarterbacks entering the 2026 season and pointed to McCord as a possible cut candidate. As Kay put it:

“McCord never panned out for a Philadelphia Eagles team that selected him in the sixth round of the 2025 draft. He spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad before being scooped up by the Packers in January. While Green Bay conceivably has a wide-open competition for the QB2 role following Malik Willis’ departure, McCord isn’t likely to beat out veteran Tyrod Taylor or undrafted free agent Kyron Drones.

“Taylor is a solid, proven depth option who has the inside track to be the direct backup for Jordan Love, while Drones looks to be a better fit as a dynamic, versatile practice squad weapon.”

McCord has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game. His only NFL action came in three preseason games with the Eagles, where he completed 24 of 56 passes for 191 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Before reaching the league, McCord had a strong college finish at Syracuse, where he placed 10th in the 2024 Heisman Trophy voting. But that production has not carried over to the NFL so far.

For now, McCord is in the mix with Taylor and Drones for one of the Packers’ quarterback spots. Whether he lasts all the way to the 53-man roster remains one of the more interesting questions in Green Bay heading toward 2026.

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