Packers training camp preview: Battle of the backup QBs set to begin

The Green Bay Packers open training camp on Wednesday, July 29, marking the unofficial start of the 2026 season for Matt LaFleur’s team. After a third straight playoff appearance but another disappointing postseason failure, the Packers are hoping to finally get over the hump in 2026. The process begins in full on July 29.

Packers Wire will go position by position previewing the roster, highlighting battles to watch, the things that actually matter and young players to monitor this summer.

Here is our training camp preview of the quarterback position:

• Jordan Love: The 2020 first-round pick is entering his fourth season as the Packers starter and will be coming off a highly efficient 2025 season.
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• Tyrod Taylor: The veteran journeyman is the expected backup, giving the Packers a wealth of experience behind Love.

• Kyle McCord: The 2025 draft pick of the Eagles signed a futures deal with the Packers in January.

• Kyron Drones: Rookie undrafted free agent with impressive size and athleticism, but raw as a passer.

Jordan Love: The 2020 first-round pick is entering his fourth season as the Packers starter and will be coming off a highly efficient 2025 season.

Tyrod Taylor: The veteran journeyman is the expected backup, giving the Packers a wealth of experience behind Love.

Kyle McCord: The 2025 draft pick of the Eagles signed a futures deal with the Packers in January.

Kyron Drones: Rookie undrafted free agent with impressive size and athleticism, but raw as a passer.

While Jordan Love remains entrenched as the franchise quarterback and is seen by some nationally (and locally) as a possible NFL MVP candidate entering 2026, the situation behind him has changed drastically. Gone are Malik Willis, Clayton Tune and Desmond Ridder. Willis gave the Packers a dynamic backup who played important snaps while Love missed time during each of the last two seasons. Entering the equation are 36-year-old Tyrod Taylor, rookie Kyron Drones and 2025 draft pick Kyle McCord. It is assumed Taylor will be the backup, but who will emerge as the developmental quarterback? Drones is Willis-like in terms of size and athleticism but needs time. McCord spent a year learning in Philadelphia after a highly productive collegiate career, but the Eagles did not retain him after just one season. The No. 3 quarterback situation might be a fluid one during training camp and ahead of the regular season. If neither Drones nor McCord is ready for a job on the practice squad, the Packers will look elsewhere for a quarterback to groom. Drones is intriguing as a dual threat type who could give the Packers a unique look as a scout quarterback during the regular season. — Zach Kruse

The Packers had one of the league’s best backup quarterbacks in Malik Willis. Now, Willis is going to start for the Miami Dolphins, and in steps Tyrod Taylor to hold things down behind Jordan Love. On the one hand, having another savvy veteran in the quarterback room could benefit Love. On the other hand, unlike Willis, Taylor is a journeyman who’s no longer viewed as a viable starter. Whenever Willis entered the game, the offense rarely faltered. Taylor’s time with the Jets under offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett should make learning Matt LaFleur’s scheme a tad easier. At the end of the day, Taylor needs to show he is capable of running the offense and playing winning football if he has to be on the field for an extended period. — Brandon Carwile

Jordan Love was an absolute assassin from clean pockets in 2025, but had a down year in terms of his performance under duress. Green Bay‘s offensive line, which was a severe disappointment, put him in compromised positions more than he would have liked, and that likely contributed to his overall struggles in that regard. There is no guarantee the O-line will take a big step forward in 2026, so Love may need to get back to creating the kind of magic we saw in previous seasons when plays go off script or defenders are in his face. It may be tough to evaluate during camp, as there is no risk of him actually being hit, but it will still be worth tracking whether Love is able to regularly make plays under pressure this summer. — Mark Oldacres

How Kyron Drones looks from the start of training camp to the end of training camp will be fascinating to watch. I think he has a long way to go before he’ll ever be the backup to Jordan Love. Maybe Tyrod Taylor can stick around long enough to keep the seat warm for the Virginia Tech product. For the young player to watch I’m going Kyle McCord. The former five-star recruit isn’t going to unseat Taylor for the backup starting gig, but with an impressive summer, he could throw his name into the ring to be Love’s backup in 2027. During his final collegiate season, he set the ACC record for passing yards in a season (4,779) and set the Syracuse single-season program record for completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. While he may have average tools from a physical standpoint, his football acumen could lead him to have a long career as a backup quarterback. The door is wide open for him to stake his claim as Love’s backup starting in 2027 if the Packers can keep him hidden on the practice squad all season. — Brennen Rupp