The Green Bay Packers added to their quarterback room over the weekend, but not by way of a trade or the NFL draft.
Instead, the Packers signed Virginia Tech QB Kyron Drones as an undrafted free agent rookie. Jordan Schultz reported the news via social media on Saturday, April 25.
Drones had a pre-draft meeting with Green Bay, according to a report from Pro Football Talk. So while the team didn’t expend one of only six picks it held in the 2026 draft to acquire the quarterback, he ends up alongside starter Jordan Love anyway.
A five-year collegiate player, Drones will turn 23 years old in July. He played two seasons with Baylor to begin his NCAA career, spending the past three campaigns as the Hokies quarterback.
All told, Drones threw for 5,566 passing yards, 44 TDs and 18 INTs across 34 games played at Virginia Tech, earning a completion rate of 58.3 percent. He also rushed the football for 1,798 yards and 20 scores over his three years at the helm. He threw one TD pass at Baylor.
Drones stands at six-feet, two-inches tall and weighs 235 pounds.
Packers Still Potentially in Play to Trade for QB Anthony Richardson
GettyIndianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.
The Packers now employ four quarterbacks, as Desmond Ridder and Kyle McCord are sandwiched on the depth chart between Love and Drones.
Green Bay’s signing of Drones, however, doesn’t preclude the franchise from pursuing a more established veteran player as a potential backup for Love/competition for Ridder in that role.
Both Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts and Will Levis of the Tennessee Titans remain available via the trade block, and either one could make sense for the Packers depending on how many assets and how much money the team is willing to spend as it looks to replace Malik Willis, who played his way over two years in Green Bay into a starting role with the Miami Dolphins.
A Day 3 pick in 2027 is the likely asking price for either Richardson or Levis. Based on the Packers’ signing of Drones and his skill set, Richardson and his dual-threat ability would appear the more likely trade path should Green Bay pursue one. He was the No. 4 overall pick in 2023, has a huge arm and elite rushing ability from the position, and turns 24 years old in May.
Richardson will cost around $5.4 million against the salary cap in 2026. Meanwhile, Levis’ roster price next season in Green Bay would be approximately $2.05 million.
Desmond Ridder Could Be Packers Backup Quarterback
GettyGreen Bay Packers quarterback Desmond Ridder.
It is possible the Packers already have their QB2 of choice on the roster in Ridder, a third-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2022.
Ridder has appeared in 25 games over the course of his four-year career, starting 18 of those (8-10) across stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders. He has completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 4,002 yards, 16 TDs and 14 INTs. Ridder has also rushed the football for 293 yards and five scores.
He is under contract for one year at $1.2 million and will play next season at 27 years old.
Packers Ink Dual-Threat, 65-TD QB to Compete With Desmond Ridder