Green Bay Packers fans have been spoiled over the last two seasons. They had a backup quarterback who was arguably the best second-string signal caller in the NFL in Malik Willis. Now, Willis will be the starter in Miami, and the Packers have turned to veteran Tyrod Taylor as their new backup. But what does Taylor bring to the mix and is this a step down from Willis?

Willis did a great job as the Packers backup quarterback. He seemed to be on the verge of being the third string quarterback on a struggling Titans team or even possibly being released when the Packers traded for him. But his move to Green Bay and the work of Matt LaFleur and the Packers coaching staff helped Willis turn things around. Willis put in plenty of work learning the offense and working on his mechanics and footwork.

In two seasons with the Packers, Willis completed 78.7 percent of his passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns. He did not throw an interception. His quarterback rating was an impressive 134.6.

Willis could also run with the football. In fact, when he was thrust into action in Week 2 of the 2024 season, LaFleur designed a run-heavy game plan to suit Willis’ skill set. With the Packers, he ran 42 times for 261 yards and three touchdowns. That’s a healthy average of 6.2-yards per rush.

Taylor gives the Packers a very different type of backup quarterback. The former Virginia Tech star has been in the NFL for 15 seasons (this will be his 16th), and the Packers will be his eighth NFL team. He started for the Bills from 2015-2017 and even made the Pro Bowl after the 2015 campaign. But since 2018, Taylor has been a reliable backup quarterback.

Last season, Taylor appeared in six games as the New York Jets backup quarterback. He started four games and won one of them. He completed 59.7 percent of his passes for 779 yards. He tossed five touchdowns and five interceptions. Of course, the Jets were one of the worst teams in the NFL, so Taylor didn’t exactly have a great team around him.

Taylor has an above average arm at this stage of his career, and he certainly knows how to lead an NFL team. He has always been a mobile quarterback, but at the age of 37 (as of August 3rd), he’s no longer the running threat he was earlier in his career. Willis was certainly more dangerous running the ball last year than Taylor will be this season for the Packers. Still, Taylor still has enough mobility to evade the rush and buy time to throw the ball downfield. Last year, he ran 27 times for 143 yards and a touchdown, an average of 5.3-yards per rush.

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst explained why he signed Taylor shortly after this year’s NFL Draft. “It’s a really important thing for us,” Gutekunst explained when asked about backup quarterbacks. “Jordan, the last two years has missed some time, and we’ve needed somebody to come in there and play at a high level to help us win those games. So, whoever’s called upon we’re going to expect that and when you lose a guy like Malik, it is something you’re going to have to replace and we’re going to try to do that.”

LaFleur has been pleased with how Taylor performed at OTAs and mandatory minicamp. “Tyrod, he’s been awesome, man. He’s really come into the room and is absorbing everything,” LaFleur said. “He does have a little familiarity with our system. Obviously, he’s played a long time in this league. But it’s good that he was with [Nathaniel] Hackett in New York. So, everything isn’t foreign.”

While Taylor may not be as dynamic or as dangerous as Willis was, he brings more experience and could help mentor starter Jordan Love in a way that Willis never could. More importantly, he will fulfill the role of a solid NFL backup quarterback: to give his team a chance to win a game or two if the starting quarterback is unavailable to play.

Taylor may be a step down from Willis, but he gives the Packers a steady, reliable backup who can get the job done. The Packers hope they don’t need Taylor to play often this season, but if he does play, they know they can rely on him to give the team a chance to win any game.