QB Donovan McNabb to the Green Bay Packers?

The Green Bay Packers allowed Matt Flynn to depart this season via free agency, but in the last week it seems that the Packers franchise might be interested in bringing in a veteran to back up reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers this season. Graham Harrell is slated as Rodger’s backup this season, but there seems to have been some doubt cast upon his ability in recent days.

Harrell spent the majority of last season on the Packers practice squad. Once the Buffalo Bills showed an interest in signing Harrell, the Packers signed him to the 53-man roster late in the season. Green Bay must have liked what they saw on the practice field from Harrell at that point, but recent articles have raised questions about whether or not the Packers will roll into the 2012 season with Harrell as the primary backup. Deference needs to be given to the Green Bay organization for developing quarterbacks, they have a pretty solid recent track record.

Multiple reports on the internet suggest that the Packers are going to be hunting a veteran signal caller if Harrell fails to deliver in pre-season games. That speculation has carried over to to the persistent rumors this offseason that Green Bay is the likely landing spot for Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy. I wouldn’t be so quick to connect those dots. Yes, McCoy played in a West Coast offense in Cleveland, but the jury is still out whether or not he is an actual starting caliber quarterback in the NFL. Is he an upgrade over Harrell at this point?

There is a veteran quarterback out there, which has played his entire career in a West Coast offense, Donovan McNabb. Green Bay will likely roll through the first few games of the pre-season with Harrell to gauge his development. Cleveland is most likely going to hold on to McCoy as long as they possibly can in order to receive some sort of compensation for their former second-round selection.

Unless McCoy is released by the Browns, why would the Packers surrender a draft pick for McCoy, when they could bring in Donovan McNabb and sign him for a very affordable price? In all reality, Aaron Rodgers has been a very durable quarterback for the Packers. He has missed two games in four seasons. One game in 2010 due to a concussion and he sat the final game of 2011, so backup quarterbacks likely won’t see much action in Green Bay.

McNabb is actively looking for work, recently telling the media that he has three teams on his radar. Whether or not they have him on their radar is another story. But, he can come cheap and provides a lot more experience than Colt McCoy. He makes sense for the Packers at the right price if Harrell falters in the pre-season.