Packers Meet with QB NFL Draft Prospect Holton Ahlers, Aaron Rodgers' Future with Team
The Green Bay Packers have reportedly met three times with Eastern Carolina quarterback Holton Ahlers, a 2023 NFL Draft prospect whose star is rising. Ahlers garnered MVP honors in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl—one of the postseason all-star bowls for top NFL Draft prospects.
The question on everyone’s mind: What does this meeting tell us about Aaron Rodgers, the Packers’ draft plans, and the future of the quarterback position in Green Bay?
The answer: Not much.
To start, teams scheduling meetings with individual players merely means that teams are doing their due diligence. Even if a team does not draft a player, the team may keep the player’s scouting information on file in case the team has occasion to acquire the player down the road.
Moreover, drafting a late-round quarterback (as Ahlers is slated to be at best, even after a big performance in the NFLPA Bowl) does not say much about the team’s plans for who will start the year under center. One draft analyst takes the view that teams should draft a quarterback every year, even if they are already set at the position. That observation is probably right; quarterbacks have a longer shelf life in the league, and therefore they retain their value for future trades while still presenting the enticing possibility of hitting big if called upon (see, e.g., Brock Purdy).
Ahlers has not garnered nearly as much attention as other quarterbacks in the process, but he could end up a solid backup in the pros with spot start potential. A lefty, he has NFL size for the position and posted solid numbers as ECU’s quarterback in 2022. He has solid strength and poise in the pocket, using his frame and athleticism to keep plays alive and deliver throws when under pressure.
If Ahlers does go to the Packers, he would provide a cheaper option for Green Bay on a rookie contract as the team contemplates a rebuild.
