Final Grade for the 2023 Green Bay Packers: Quarterbacks

This is the first in a series of articles providing an in-depth analysis of each position group on the Green Bay Packers for 2023. We will start with the quarterbacks. The grades will be for each unit as a whole, but we will give an analysis of each player, their strengths and weaknesses and where they stand heading into the offseason. Here are the grades for the Packers quarterbacks in 2023. The marks are based on a combination of expectations and performance.

The Packers offense finished 12^th in the NFL in passing yards on the season and 12^th in the league in points scored with 383 which is 13 more points than they scored a year ago.

Packers Starting Quarterback Jordan Love Had a Slow Start

Jordan Love started all 17 games for the Packers this season. The former Utah State star had just one NFL start prior to 2023 so it did take time for him to adjust to his new responsibilities as the Packers starting quarterback.

Early on, Love had difficulty finding open receivers when making his second and third reads. He also struggled with accuracy issues when throwing the ball deep downfield. Playing with an inexperienced receiving corps and injuries to the offensive line and running back Aaron Jones didn’t help ease the transition.

The Packers were just 2-5 after seven games and during a four-game losing streak, Love threw seven interceptions. Love and the team were both struggling throughout the first half of the season.

The Strong Finish and Final Grade for Packers Quarterback Jordan Love

In the second half of the season, Love got more comfortable with his reads. He regularly found his second or third options and learned when to try a deep throw and when to take a checkdown pass.

In the final eight games of the season, Love completed 70.3 percent of his passes for 2,150 yards. He threw 18 touchdowns and just one interception, giving him an impressive quarterback rating of 112.7.

Love also showed he could be the leader of this young team and proved himself to be the team’s long-term answer at quarterback.

For the season, Love completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns while tossing 11 picks. The 32 touchdown passes were second in the NFL behind Dak Prescott. Love’s quarterback rating for the season was 96.1, an upgrade over the 91.1 Aaron Rodgers registered last season.

Love also played an outstanding game in the Wild Card Playoff game in Dallas. He completed 76.2 percent of his passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns and finished with a quarterback rating of 157.2. The former Utah State star only missed a perfect passer rating when he returned to the game late and threw one final incomplete pass.

The Packers Backup Quarterback Situation

Rookie Sean Clifford won the backup quarterback position with a strong preseason. The fifth-round pick out of Penn State showed good leadership qualities and the ability to read defenses. His lack of arm strength was apparent during the preseason as well. That’s what kept him from being drafted higher.

Clifford only attempted one pass during the regular season, a 37-yard toss to Bo Melton. He played 13 total offensive snaps this season including one pass attempt and three kneel downs.

Alex McGough spent the season on the practice squad as the third quarterback. He was not elevated for any games this season.