The Green Bay Packers are heading into the offseason with more questions than answers after a stunning collapse in the Wild Card round against the Chicago Bears. Up 21-3 at halftime, Green Bay looked like it had the game - and a playoff run - in its grasp. But what followed was one of the more brutal second-half meltdowns in recent memory, as the Bears stormed back and sent the Packers packing.
Despite the painful ending, the franchise is choosing continuity over overhaul. Head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst have both received contract decisions that indicate the organization is sticking with its leadership core.
That said, there’s no mistaking the urgency in Titletown. After a promising regular season and a young quarterback showing flashes of real potential, this team knows it’s close - but close doesn’t cut it in the NFL.
One storyline to watch as Green Bay reshapes its roster: the backup quarterback spot. With Malik Willis expected to test free agency in search of a chance to compete for a starting role, the Packers could be in the market for a new QB2 behind Jordan Love.
And one name that’s surfaced? Trey Lance.
Yes, that Trey Lance - the former No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. According to reports, Lance could be on Green Bay’s radar as a potential fit to back up Love.
It’s an intriguing idea, and not just because of Lance’s draft pedigree. Green Bay has shown a willingness in recent years to take calculated swings on high-upside quarterbacks who need a change of scenery.
Malik Willis was one such project. Lance would be another - albeit one with even more raw talent and a more complex NFL journey.
Since entering the league, Lance’s career has been anything but linear. Limited to just 16 regular season games, he’s completed 54 percent of his passes for 1,289 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions.
He’s also added 361 rushing yards and a score on the ground. The tools are there - the mobility, the arm strength, the frame - but the reps haven’t been.
Injuries, depth chart shuffles, and situational instability have all played a role in his stunted development.
That’s where Green Bay could come in. The Packers offer something Lance hasn’t had much of: stability. With LaFleur at the helm - one of the more respected offensive minds in the league - and a young starter in Love who’s still carving out his own path, the environment could be ideal for a player like Lance to reset, recalibrate, and rebuild.
There’s no deal in place, and this is still very much in the realm of offseason speculation. But the logic is sound.
Green Bay doesn’t need a veteran backup who’s been around the league a dozen times. They need someone who can grow with the current roster, someone who could step in if needed but also develop quietly behind the scenes.
Trey Lance fits that mold. Whether the Packers decide to make a move remains to be seen, but if they do go shopping for a backup quarterback this offseason, don’t be surprised if Lance’s name stays in the mix.