The Packers’ quarterback depth chart at the top is settled, and after last night’s work against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the fight for the back end of the room looks pretty clear too.
Kyle McCord came away looking like the more usable NFL quarterback by a wide margin. Kyron Drones, for all his athletic juice, didn’t come close to matching him.
McCord finished 12 of 16 for 105 yards. He didn’t find the end zone and was sacked twice, but he stayed out of real trouble over his 32 snaps. The arm isn’t going to jump off the screen, but it was good enough, and he handled the chaos around him with poise while the Packers’ reserve offensive line kept leaking pressure.
Drones’ night was much rougher. He got only six snaps at quarterback and turned in what can only be called an adventurous cameo.
His lone pass fell incomplete, and he was taken down three times. One of those sacks was especially ugly, with Drones scrambling backward for 17 yards and dragging the Packers from their own 22 all the way back to their five-yard line.
On another, he seemed rattled by pressure on what looked like a screen pass.
That reaction is understandable in the moment - seeing NFL-sized linemen closing fast is enough to make anybody flinch. But that’s also part of the job, especially when the defense is already giving away the rush because the play is designed to spring a screen.
Drones has never really been viewed as a finished product as a passer. At Virginia Tech, he operated in an option-heavy, RPO-heavy offense and completed just over 58% of his career throws.
The touch and consistency needed to project as an NFL quarterback never really showed up. What did show up was his running ability: more than 1,800 rushing yards as a Hokie.
That kind of profile still has some value. A mobile quarterback can help a practice squad prepare for quarterbacks with similar traits, and in a division with Caleb Williams and Kyler Murray, that’s not nothing for Green Bay.
Still, based on what happened last night and what each player brings overall, the Packers may not need to carry both men just to fill out the roster. With a 16-man practice squad, there’s room to think creatively, but the better move might be keeping McCord and continuing the hunt for a runner who can offer at least something more as a passer.
If there was ever a real competition for the third quarterback job, it looks finished now.
In Other News...
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Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure had more limited roles in those looks, which only sharpens the focus on Goldens standing heading into the season. If LaFleur keeps leaning into that usage, Golden could be on the path to a larger role than many expected early on. For a Packers offense still taking shape, those preseason breadcrumbs are often where the real story starts to show itself. [Read more 🡒]
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It was only one series, and preseason games rarely tell the whole story, but Willis has a way of keeping himself in the conversation. Miami signed him to a three-year contract after his time in Green Bay, and if he keeps stacking efficient outings like this, the Packers will have even more reason to wonder what he might have become with a longer runway. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have Real Camp Battles After A Shaky Preseason Start
The Packers came out of their preseason loss to the Steelers with the kind of film that can sharpen a training camp in a hurry. Matt LaFleur said the team avoided any long-term injuries, which at least kept the night from becoming more of a health concern, but the coaching staff still had plenty to sort through after a shaky showing that put the focus back on competition at the offensive line and in the defensive backfield.
LaFleur and his assistants also highlighted a few bright spots, with rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse and edge defender Lukas Van Ness drawing praise for their play. Even so, Green Bay knows the bigger issue is cleaning up the fundamentals, especially tackling, after limited live opportunities in practice left the team with more questions than answers in a game that was supposed to help settle them. [Read more 🡒]