The Green Bay Packers have a few needs to take care of at some point during the 2026 NFL offseason. One of those needs comes at the quarterback position.
After seeing Malik Willis leave town for a three-year, $67.5 million contract with Jeff Hafley and the Miami Dolphins, the Packers will need to bring in another quality backup behind Jordan Love. Brian Gutekunst will need to find a guy who can come in and win games if called upon.
Willis has been an elite backup over the last two years. In each of the last two seasons, he has been called upon to play when Love went down with injury.
Keeping that in mind, Green Bay has been connected to a few different quarterbacks. New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields was one of those names.
Now, the Packers have missed out on Fields.
Green Bay Packers Miss Out on Justin Fields
According to a report from ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Jets have agreed to a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs that involves Fields being the backup behind Patrick Mahomes.
“Trade: the New York Jets are finalizing a deal that will send QB Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs, pending a physical, per ESPN sources,” Schefter wrote on X. “Other teams were interested, but Fields’ preference was to go to Kansas City.”
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini has shared that the Chiefs are giving up a 2027 sixth-round draft pick in order to acquire Fields from the Jets.
Fields is coming off of a 2025 season with New York that saw him play in nine games. He completed 62.7 percent of his pass attempts for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns, and just one interception. In addition, he picked up 383 yards and scored four more touchdowns on the ground.
The Packers will need to look elsewhere to find a backup quarterback.
Another Name Has Emerged as a Potential Favorite for Green Bay
While some fans were hoping to see Fields be the backup behind Love, others would like to see Green Bay take the same approach it took when it acquired Willis from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a seventh-round pick.
One player who could potentially be had for around that price tag is Indianapolis Colts former No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson.
ESPN’s Stephen Holder specifically name-dropped the Packers as a team to watch when it comes to a Richardson trade this offseason.
“Update on Colts QB Anthony Richardson, who is available via trade,” Holder wrote. “No deal is imminent, per multiple sources. There are interested teams, but the dust is still settling from free agency. One particular team to monitor: the Green Bay Packers.”
Even though Fields is now off the board, Green Bay has plenty of other options to consider. Richardson seems like the most likely choice at this point in time.
Packers Get Bad News on Rumored Potential QB Option