Packers pull the trigger on intriguing QB decision after first preseason game
Green Bay has waived undrafted rookie Kyron Drones, who was sacked three times against the Pittsburgh Steelers and got behind in the QB3 competition.
The Green Bay Packers made their first quarterback decision of the preseason, waiving undrafted rookie Kyron Drones after the signal-caller failed in his attempt to compete for the QB3 job during training camp. The move leaves the Packers with only three quarterbacks on the 90-man roster: starter Jordan Love, veteran backup Tyrod Taylor, and second-year quarterback Kyle McCord.
Drones, a dual-threat quarterback out of Virginia Tech, arrived in Green Bay with an elite athletic profile. The 6-1, 226-pound passer ran a high-level 40-yard dash and posted a Relative Athletic Score of 9.58. He also spent time at Baylor earlier in his college career before transferring to Virginia Tech for his final three seasons. The Packers signed him shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft.
Training camp and preseason struggles
Despite the physical tools, Drones never established himself during training camp. He was clearly behind McCord in the competition, and his lone preseason appearance against the Pittsburgh Steelers just reinforced that reality. Drones attempted just one pass without a completion, took three sacks, and finished with a 39.6 passer rating.
McCord, on the other hand, had a strong showing in the preseason opener. The second-year quarterback completed 12 of 16 passes for 102 yards and posted a 91.1 passer rating.
What comes next in the QB room
Green Bay now has to decide whether to sign a fourth quarterback for the remainder of training camp and preseason, or simply give McCord additional reps to compensate for the thinner depth chart. The latter approach could accelerate McCord’s development, but it also carries the inherent risk of operating with only three quarterbacks through the rest of August, especially because Love isn’t expected to play against the Arizona Cardinals in the third preseason game.
Drones will go through the waiver process. If he clears, the former Virginia Tech quarterback will become a free agent available to sign with any team across the league. For the Packers, the focus shifts to solidifying the quarterback room with Love, Taylor, and McCord as the group heading toward the regular season.
