Packers make strategic roster move with an eye on what it could mean for Jordan Love's growth and production
It's rare for the Green Bay Packers to keep four quarterbacks on the 90-man roster, but it seems like this is the trend right now. Former Wilfrid Laurier quarterback Taylor Elgersma is finally signing with the Packers after being with the team in the rookie minicamp. As the Packers have an open roster spot, they […]
It's rare for the Green Bay Packers to keep four quarterbacks on the 90-man roster, but it seems like this is the trend right now. Former Wilfrid Laurier quarterback Taylor Elgersma is finally signing with the Packers after being with the team in the rookie minicamp. As the Packers have an open roster spot, they don't need to make a corresponding move, which also means they are keeping four QBs.
The Packers haven't kept this many quarterbacks for a training camp since 2019, Matt LaFleur's first one as a head coach. Back then, the roster had Aaron Rodgers, Tim Boyle, DeShone Kizer, and Manny Wilkins. Rodgers and Boyle made the team, and Wilkins spent the season on the practice squad.
In the following years, the Packers had both Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love, not giving much space for other pieces. There was a combination of Boyle, Kurt Benkert, and Danny Etling as third-stringers. After Rodgers was traded, the team had Sean Clifford and Alex McGough in 2023, Clifford and Michael Pratt in 2024 behind Jordan Love.
Now, the Packers will have Love, Malik Willis, Sean Clifford, and Taylor Elgersma. He's the 11th undrafted free agent signed by Green Bay this year.
What it means
Over the past few years, the Packers needed as many practice reps as possible for Jordan Love. After all, Love spent his first three NFL seasons as a backup, and as a raw prospect, he needed to play as much as possible—in training camp, yes, but even in preseason games. This was an obvious priority for the coaching staff over the last two years.
Now that Love is fully developed and has two starting seasons’ worth of experience, Green Bay can have a different approach to practice time. After a year of Love handling injuries, it makes sense to lessen his offseason and training camp workload to have him ready and healthy for the regular season.
Long-term option
Malik Willis is the backup and played well when needed last year, but he's entering the final year of his rookie deal. Sean Clifford is also playing the final year of his deal, and he might be an exclusive-rights free agent or restricted free agent next offseason—depending on if he accrues the 2025 season or not.
Especially if Willis signs elsewhere, the Packers would want a backup with a higher ceiling, and that's ultimately why they're signing Taylor Elgersma. A high-level player in Canadian college football, Elgersma showed raw developmental talent at the Senior Bowl.
"He's got a very live arm, and you can see that on tape," head coach Matt LaFleur said during rookie minicamp. "Obviously, he played at the Senior Bowl and (Jason) Vrable got to see him there. He was in two of the senior games, we had them in a 30 visit. Another guy that loves football, watching him throw, he's got a live arm. There's a lot to like about him."
Scouting profile
Destin Adams, a draft expert for A to Z Sports, was at the Senior Bowl and shared his perception of Elgersma:
“The first thing you notice about Taylor Elgersma is the ball comes out of his hand with some incredible velocity and has stereotypical size for the position. I was able to watch him at the Senior Bowl. His accuracy was sporadic and I think his footwork will need to be coached up, but he can make every NFL throw necessary.
I left the Senior Bowl feeling pretty optimistic about his shot at getting a training camp opportunity in the NFL. I spoke to a scout who was also present at the Senior Bowl and he felt similar, and even said he thought his arm strength in Mobile stood out above multiple QBs that ended up hearing their names called in the top three rounds.
They also shared that the fact that he needs so much coaching still makes him a ‘ball of clay,’ in a sense that offensive-minded coaches would probably love to work with a better chance to develop him into a long term backup than people realize." — Destin Adams.
Packers are set to add a talented quarterback with intriguing upside who already earned strong praise from Matt LaFleur
Taylor Elgersma was a part of the Senior Bowl roster
