The Green Bay Packers selected quarterback Brett Hundley in the fifth-round of the 2015 NFL Draft knowing full well that he was unprepared to parse the dauntingly complex language of NFL defenses and therefore unlikely to see any actual regular season action for at least a couple of years. Add in the presence of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, one of the best, if not the outright best player in the league, and it makes sense then that Packers GM Ted Thompson would be willing to expend a draft pick on a player with a very high upside but whom many in the scouting community expected to require ample development time. Still, despite his readily apparent flaws, Hundley has shown this preseason that he's no slouch and further, according to a report from Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, may have already proven that he's got what it takes to last in the league.
"Looks like they got a real keeper," an NFC personnel man said of Hundley, via McGinn. "He was poised beyond his years. I was really impressed with him."
The unnamed executive McGinn was speaking with was referencing Hundley's most recent efforts against the Philadelphia Eagles - a game in which he tossed a frustrating pick-six, but also led touchdown drives of 74, 80 and 83 yards. Things started out rough for Hundley as Packers tight end Richard Rodgers fell down on an out route and Eagles safety Walter Thurmond intercepted his pass and took it to the house, but despite performing with four backup offensive linemen and without Randall Cobb, Davante Adams and Eddie Lacy for most of the game, Hundley played well and showed the kind of promise that Thompson and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy are likely all too happy to see.
"I don't want to say he's been everything and then some," Green Bay quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt said, via McGinn. "We're happy where he is right now and hope he'll continue to get better."
While Scott Tolzien apparently remains firmly in the No. 2 spot behind Hundley, his athletic tools combined with his poise and will to succeed could spell good things for his NFL future.
The 6-foot-3, 226-pound Hundley entered the pre-draft process as a prospect many assumed would need at least a couple of seasons to develop before being ready for live action. While that's still likely the case - and really, there's almost no chance Hundley would be able to displace Rodgers barring some type of catastrophic injury to the perennial All Pro gunslinger - it seems Hundley has already shown enough that his spot in the NFL and on the Packers roster this season is secured.
Whether he can build on that performance and turn himself into a possible NFL starter in the future remains to be seen and will be very, very interesting to watch.
