Green Bay Packers quarterback Alex McGough is switching his position to become a wide receiver ahead of the new NFL season.
After spending last season as the franchise's third-string quarterback, his move follows the Packers' selection of Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt in the 2024 NFL Draft. The change could utilise McCough's impressive physical skills.
The head coach, Matt LaFleur, told Packers.com: "He's [McGough] a really athletic guy. He spent a lot of time on the scout team, running receiver routes and he did such a great job. We feel like he's such a talented athlete. Why not give him a chance there?".
Despite being rated a mere two-star prospect and ranked 264th amongst high-school recruits in Florida, McGough chose to remain local for college and enrolled at Florida International (FIU). Here, he found immediate success with the Panthers, starting 12 games as a freshman.
Over his four years in Miami, he developed tremendously, throwing nearly 3,000 yards and completing over 65 percent of his passes as FIU recorded its most successful season in its history..
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This college-level performance was notable enough to earn a spot in the NFL Draft - McGough got selected in the seventh round, just a few places away from the notorious "Mr. Irrelevant" title. Yet, he saw little success in the NFL, drifting through the practice squads of the Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texas, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Later, McGough ended up being the sixth-overall choice in the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2023, McGough was signed to the Packers as a backup player but, capitalising on an injury on starting quarterback J'Mar Smith, soared to great heights. Over nine starts, the Birmingham Stallions QB threw for 2,105 yards and 20 touchdowns with a whopping 67.4 percent accuracy.
He bagged the league's MVP award and led his team to back-to-back USFL championships. Despite having a middling football career at Florida International University (FIU), McGough appeared more comfortable using his solid 6'4, 215-pound frame at grassroots level. He raked in 403 yards over 70 rushing attempts, a decent nearly six-yards per carry.
McGough was USFL MVP in 2023 (Getty Images)This footwork has made coach LaFleur hopeful about McGough's chances at receiver. There are only a handful of quarterbacks who've successfully transitioned to receiver positions - names like Julian Edelman and Terelle Pryor stand apart. However, history isn't necessarily on McGough's side.
His stats during Pro Day for the NFL Draft, including a 40-yard dash in 4.62 seconds, a 32.5 vertical, and a three-cone drill time of 7.27 seconds, lag behind average results among fellow wide receivers.
The Packers boast a formidable wide receiver lineup, making it a challenge for newcomers to break through. With nine players who snagged at least 10 passes last season returning in 2024, the competition is fierce.
Yet, Coach LaFleur has taken note of McGough's impressive performance while running routes with the scout team last year, praising his intelligence and work ethic. LaFleur commented: "He's a smart guy, works his tail off, I think he can definitely contribute on [special teams], as well. So we felt like that might be his chance here."
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