The Green Bay Packers started OTAs this week. While the Packers know that Jordan Love will be the starter and Tyrod Taylor will be the number two quarterback, the team still has a quarterback battle to watch at OTAs. The Packers have two candidates on their current 90-man roster battling to be the team’s developmental quarterback. They are veteran Kyle McCord and rookie Kyron Drones. One of them will likely serve as the Packers third quarterback and spend the season on the practice squad. However, they will also have a chance to become the second quarterback in 2027 if they make enough progress this season. Here is a look at the quarterback battle to watch at Packers OTAs.
The Packers Have a Quarterback Battle to Watch at OTAs: The Veteran
It may be odd to refer to McCord as a veteran as he has yet to play a down of regular season NFL football. He split his college career between Ohio State and Syracuse. At Syracuse in his final collegiate season, he led the NCAA in regular season passing yards with 4,326 while throwing 29 touchdown passes.
The Eagles selected the 6’3”, 218-pound McCord in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The scouting report on McCord praised his quick release and accurate passing. McCord reads defenses well and has good arm strength. He is not an elite athlete, and his accuracy suffers when under pressure because it alters his arm angle.
He spent the 2025 season on the Eagles practice squad. The Packers signed him to a futures contract on January 20th of this year. Now he is competing for the third quarterback spot.
The Rookie
The Packers signed Drones as an undrafted free agent after this year’s draft. He split his college football career between Baylor (2021-2022) and Virginia Tech (2023-2025). At 6’2” and 226 pounds, he’s more athletic than McCord and does a better job of escaping pressure.
Drones started for three years at Virginia Tech. His best statistical season came in 2023 when he threw for 2,085 yards and 17 touchdowns against just three interceptions. He also ran for 818 yards and five touchdowns. In 2025, his completion percentage was 56.5 and he threw for 1,919 yards and 17 touchdowns with nine interceptions while running for 644 yards and nine more scores.
Drones has a good arm and knows how to make all the necessary throws. He does have a tendency to hold the ball too long and he needs to work on his mechanics and footwork. This is something that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has worked on with Jordan Love and Malik Willis in the past.
The Packers Have a Quarterback Battle to Watch at OTAs: Looking Ahead
McCord and Drones were set to battle for the backup position before the Packers signed Taylor earlier this month. Now, barring injury, the battle is for a spot on the practice squad to be the team’s developmental quarterback.
Both quarterbacks would benefit from learning from LaFleur and from observing Love and Taylor for a season. Taylor signed a one-year deal and will turn 37 in August. His stay in Green Bay may not last for more than one season. The winner of this competition will have the inside track to being the backup quarterback in 2027, although they may have to compete with a 2027 draft pick if the Packers decide to select a quarterback next season.
McCord may be slightly ahead of Drones in his development, but Drones brings more athleticism and elusiveness, which is something the Packers have valued in backup quarterbacks in recent years.
The battle begins this week at OTAs but will likely continue all the way through final cuts just before the start of the season. If neither player impresses, the Packers could look for another quarterback off waivers or via trade. But right now, it’s most likely that either McCord or Drones will be the Packers third quarterback this season.
Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
Click here for more great Packers coverage
Check out our YouTube channel here
