The Green Bay Packers don't want to be addressing the quarterback position this early in the season, but they unfortunately have to.
Jordan Love getting injured in Week 1 was an absolute worst-case scenario for the Packers. Green Bay had just paid their young star $220 million to be the face of the franchise this summer, while doing little to ensure they had a quality backup.
In the final days before the regular season, the Packers traded a seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for third-year signal-caller Malik Willis. Willis represented more of a project than a capable fill-in, having never thrown a touchdown pass in his brief career.
Now that Love's MCL sprain will reportedly hold him out three to six weeks, Willis has been named the tentative starter by head coach Matt LaFleur. But the Packers would be doing themselves a disservice to not at least think about their other options.
On Tuesday, Cody Williams of FanSided proposed that the Packers could send 2025 and 2026 fifth-round picks to the Cleveland Browns for quarterback Jameis Winston and a 2025 sixth-rounder.
"Winston is the perfect quarterback to step into the building, pick up a vanilla offense and keep the ship afloat," Williams said. "He offers the upside to keep Green Bay competitive enough that the bottom doesn't fall out but also won't start any quarterback controversy once Love is healthy again -- and provides insurance for the rest of the season as well."
Winston, 30, has more than 25 times the starting experience Willis does. He's been a number-one pick, he's been a long-term starter, and he's been a good fill-in when the starter ahead of him has been injured in the past.
In 2021, Winston led the New Orleans Saints to a 5-2 record before succumbing to injury. He stepped back in when Andy Dalton was hurt in 2022, and went 1-2 with a diminished Saints roster that missed the playoffs for a second straight year.
Even if this week is too quick a turnaround, the Packers have to consider the trade market as a legitimate path to saving their season. Whether it's Winston, Josh Dobbs, or a complete wild card, there has to be a more qualified option out there.
This was a team with championship dreams this season, and having to play six weeks with a QB like Willis could potentially derail those dreams.
More NFL: Packers predicted to land Jets star defender to address 'biggest need'
