GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers have a hole in their quarterback room, and it measures exactly $67 million. Following Malik Willis’ massive payday with the Miami Dolphins, General Manager Brian Gutekunst is scouring the veteran market for a new insurance policy behind Jordan Love. The pressure is on to find a reliable arm before the 2026 NFL Draft takes center stage.
While the search for a backup signal-caller continues, Green Bay hasn’t been entirely idle. The front office secured a major piece of the offensive line by re-signing 25-year-old Sean Rhyan to a three-year, $33 million contract. Rhyan, who will take over primary duties at center, secured $11 million in guarantees. The coaching staff clearly views him as a rising star who proved his worth over the last two seasons by stabilizing the interior protection for Love.
On the other side of the ball, the Packers struck a blow against a division rival. They snatched Javon Hargrave away from the Minnesota Vikings with a two-year, $23 million deal. At 33, Hargrave remains a 307-pound wrecking ball. His familiarity with new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon makes this a seamless transition. He brings 49 career sacks and a reputation for clogging running lanes that should immediately upgrade Green Bay’s front four.
The urgency to find a backup stems from how well the Packers prepared themselves last year. Malik Willis didn’t just play; he excelled. Willis parlayed a spectacular two-year stint in Green Bay into a three-year, $67 million contract with the Dolphins, featuring $45 million guaranteed.
The numbers explain the price tag. In 2024, Willis completed 40 of 54 passes for 550 yards and 3 touchdowns. He didn’t blink in 2025 either, going 30-for-35 for 522 yards and another 3 scores. Most importantly, Willis hasn’t thrown an interception since his rookie year in 2022. That level of efficiency is rare for a backup, and Miami paid up to make him their starter.
With Willis gone, the free-agent board features names like Marcus Mariota, Tyrod Taylor, and Joe Flacco. However, Kirk Cousins stands out as the most logical target. After 14 years in the league and a rocky exit from the Atlanta Falcons—who drafted Michael Penix Jr. as his immediate successor—Cousins is a man without a home.
The 37-year-old still has plenty of juice in the tank. In 14 starts for Atlanta in 2024, he threw for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns. While his 16 interceptions were a concern, his career 66.7 percent completion rate proves he can still deliver the ball with precision. His six years in Minnesota mean he knows the NFC North like the back of his hand. If Love goes down, Cousins offers a level of veteran poise that Mariota, despite his 5.9 yards per carry rushing threat, cannot match in a pocket-heavy system.
“We saw first-hand how much a winning backup matters. Malik stayed ready and it won us games. We need that same standard in this room. If you can’t trust the guy behind the starter, you’re one play away from a lost season.”
— Matt LaFleur, Packers Head Coach
The Packers finished the 2025 season with a 9-7-1 record, good enough to secure a wildcard spot, but the narrow margins in the NFC North are unforgiving. With the Chicago Bears winning the division at 11-6, Green Bay cannot afford a drop-off in QB performance if Love misses time. Signing a veteran like Cousins wouldn’t just be an “insurance policy”—it would be a statement that the Packers are protecting their Super Bowl window at all costs. Expect a decision on the backup spot before the league meetings conclude later this month.
