2008 Woodie Awards
The Future at Quarterback
The Packers struggle to replace Favre
Mark Karsteadt
Issue date: 9/30/03 Section: Sports
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With the start of the NFL season upon us, the Brett Favre retirement talk is heating up again. With the exception of Ahman Green, there is a lack of playmakers around Brett. Without a promising surrounding cast, I don't believe Brett will stay past the 2004 NFL season, let alone the 2003 season. If Brett retires before the Packers sign or develop a replacement, the Packers will be harder to watch now than in the 80's. There are two options the Packers could go with to replace Brett.
The first would be using their 2004 first round draft pick on a quarterback. There are a few options out there at this time. The best quarterback available in the 2004 draft will be Eli Manning, Peyton Manning's brother, from the University of Mississippi. He has all the tools including a strong arm and an uncanny ability to read coverages. He is big, mobile and also stayed for his senior season, which will help him develop while playing the majority of the snaps. The only problem with Manning is that he might be the first player chosen. The only way the Packers could draft him is by trading multiple high draft picks. More reasonable choices for the mid to late first round would be Cody Pickett from the University of Washington or Ben Roethlisberger from the University of Miami-Ohio. They are both tall quarterbacks with strong arms and play in pro style offenses. Roethlisberger is only a junior so he would have to declare early, but is hailed as a potential superstar. He does play for a mid-major team, but so did Brett Favre. Although I voted for choosing a quarterback in last year's draft (I wanted California's Kyle Boller,) I no longer think a college quarterback, with the exception of Manning, is right for the Packers. That is why I would choose option two.
The second option would be easiest to accomplish, but with the most risk. The Packers could trade their 2004 first round draft pick to the Houston Texans for Drew Henson. (Remember the Packers traded their 1992 first round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for Brett and that turned out okay.) Henson was the quarterback at the University of Michigan before quitting to sign a lucrative minor league baseball deal with the New York Yankees. The Texans hold Henson's NFL rights after drafting him in the sixth round of the 2003 draft. Nonetheless, Henson has the ability to be great. Charley Casserly, Texans' general manager, said after drafting him, "If Drew Henson came out when he was scheduled to, he certainly would have been a first-round pick."
The first would be using their 2004 first round draft pick on a quarterback. There are a few options out there at this time. The best quarterback available in the 2004 draft will be Eli Manning, Peyton Manning's brother, from the University of Mississippi. He has all the tools including a strong arm and an uncanny ability to read coverages. He is big, mobile and also stayed for his senior season, which will help him develop while playing the majority of the snaps. The only problem with Manning is that he might be the first player chosen. The only way the Packers could draft him is by trading multiple high draft picks. More reasonable choices for the mid to late first round would be Cody Pickett from the University of Washington or Ben Roethlisberger from the University of Miami-Ohio. They are both tall quarterbacks with strong arms and play in pro style offenses. Roethlisberger is only a junior so he would have to declare early, but is hailed as a potential superstar. He does play for a mid-major team, but so did Brett Favre. Although I voted for choosing a quarterback in last year's draft (I wanted California's Kyle Boller,) I no longer think a college quarterback, with the exception of Manning, is right for the Packers. That is why I would choose option two.
The second option would be easiest to accomplish, but with the most risk. The Packers could trade their 2004 first round draft pick to the Houston Texans for Drew Henson. (Remember the Packers traded their 1992 first round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for Brett and that turned out okay.) Henson was the quarterback at the University of Michigan before quitting to sign a lucrative minor league baseball deal with the New York Yankees. The Texans hold Henson's NFL rights after drafting him in the sixth round of the 2003 draft. Nonetheless, Henson has the ability to be great. Charley Casserly, Texans' general manager, said after drafting him, "If Drew Henson came out when he was scheduled to, he certainly would have been a first-round pick."