NFL: Packers: Kizer would have been a first-round QB in 2018

With the trade for DeShone Kizer, the Green Bay Packers have secured an interesting backup option behind Aaron Rodgers. Kizer was a hotly discussed personality in last year’s draft – coach Mike McCarthy is sure that he would have been one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft.

“In my opinion, in this year’s draft, he would have belonged to this group of four or five first quarterbacks,” quotes USA Today Kizer. McCarthy would have seen last year’s Brown’s rookie in the first round, five quarterbacks in the 2018 draft went to day one: Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson.

The Packers coach confirmed this assessment: “I had the impression all the time that there were five first-round quarterbacks in this draft. The Browns had picked up Kizer in the 2017 draft in round two, only Mitchell Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were selected in round one.

McCarthy continued on Kizer: “I think he has outstanding arm talent. What we demand from him, especially in terms of footwork and the scheme, is completely new to him. I always find that exciting, because when you realize the potential, although someone has no experience yet, it’s a great opportunity for growth. I think he has a promising future.”

Kizer will now fight with Brett Hundley in Green Bay for the backup post behind Aaron Rodgers. Hundley could already show up last season due to Rodgers’ injury – and didn’t exactly leave a promising impression. This fact may have been one of the main reasons why the packers chose Kizer for the browns trade.