There is no question that Jordan Love has arrived. He is elite and has proven that he is the next great Packers quarterback after just one season. He finished second in the league in passing touchdowns with 32, and he also finished in the top 10 in passing yards, passer rating, QBR, and completions.

However, there might be an issue behind him on the depth chart. Sean Clifford was just a rookie in 2023. He only appeared in three games and attempted just one pass. Journeyman Alex McGough is the third-string backup. The 28-year-old has bounced around between the NFL and XFL but has never played a down in the NFL.

Green Bay needs a true, veteran backup. This is where an experienced backup like A.J. McCarron could come in and help. Here is why:

McCarron Has Plenty Of Starting Experience

Yes, the former Alabama star has been mostly a backup while in the NFL. However, he has been a starter in both that league and the XFL.

In the NFL, McCarron has spent a total of nine seasons with the Bengals, Bills, Raiders, Texans and Falcons. Over his nine-year career, he has played in 19 games and started 4. He has a record of 2-2 and a career passer rating of 86.6.

Before joining the Bengals last season, McCarron was the starting quarterback of the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks. He would go on to lead the league in passing touchdowns (24), passer rating (108.4), and completion percentage (68.8%).

His Role With The Packers

The former three-time national champion at Alabama has all the proof that he can be a reliable NFL backup. If Jordan Love were to ever get injured, it would be nice to have a true veteran in the building. Green Bay most likely views Clifford as a project and McGough as more of a player-coach.

McCarron, 33, has seen a lot and has played a lot professionally. Again, there aren’t many three-time national champions in the NFL or XFL for that matter. Bringing that big game experience to a young team like the Packers would be huge if he needed to step in.

Signing McCarron to a one-year deal for the season makes the most sense. Love stayed healthy last NFL season, but health is not always a given in this league.