Green Bay Packers: Possible Backup Quarterback Options to Replace Graham Harrell

Coming into the 2012 season, a lot of eyes were on the Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Graham Harrell to see if he was ready to become Aaron Rodgers' understudy. Through two preseason games, the simple answer is no.

Harrell has connected on just 52.9 percent of his passes thus far, and has thrown two interceptions to just one touchdown. According to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Packers have been mulling their options to replace Harrell.

Considering GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy have already invested two years into Harrell's development, there is no guarantee the team is ready to give up on him.

Thompson has traditionally been quiet in the transaction department, but the recent signing of running back Cedric Benson proves how unpredictable he can be.

In the coming weeks, many quarterbacks across the league may be looking for a new home, and Green Bay could be a popular destination for many of them. These are just a few of the possible names that could be tied to Green Bay in the near future.

Colt McCoy

By drafting Brandon Weeden in the first round of this year's draft and naming him the immediate starter, the Cleveland Browns have seemingly given up on Colt McCoy. In 21 career starts in Cleveland, McCoy has thrown for a respectable 4,309 yards to go with 20 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

These are by no means eye-popping numbers, but they show potential for the 25-year-old. This is a guy that still has plenty of time to improve, and the Green Bay coaches have proven to be one of the best in the league when it comes to developing quarterbacks.

With no room in Cleveland, a late-round draft pick could be a suitable price to pay for McCoy's services. There is little doubt he has more talent than Harrell, and this could be a real possibility if the price is right.

Tarvaris Jackson

Last year's subpar performance prompted the Seattle Seahawks to act swiftly at the quarterback position. They signed one of the biggest free-agent QBs available in Matt Flynn and drafted Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson in the third round.

With both the newcomers turning heads this preseason, there is simply no room left in Seattle for Tarvaris Jackson.

Jackson has started 34 games in his six-year career. While he is by no means a star in the league, he is far better than the inexperienced Harrell. It is unknown if Jackson is a better fit in Green Bay than McCoy, but the asking price is unlikely to be very high. He can provide much-needed experience in the backup role, and should be able to keep the ship afloat should Rodgers go down for an extended period of time.

Matt Hasselbeck

This is an intriguing option for Packer fans. Matt Hasselbeck was Brett Favre's backup in Green Bay in 1999 and 2000 and is currently stuck in the same position in Tennessee. The Titans are looking to the future, and that starts with putting second-year player Jake Locker under center.

Hasselbeck has put together an impressive 13-year career, but his days as a starter could be numbered, if they haven't run out already. Bringing him back to Green Bay could be a wise decision, since there will be no learning curve with a guy who has started 147 games in his career. Of course, Hasselebeck is not a long-term replacement, but the concern right now is plugging the hole that Harrell has failed to fill.

Matt Moore

Once again, it appears as if Matt Moore is getting the short end of the stick in his most recent quarterback battle. Miami Dolphins rookie Ryan Tannehill was recently given the starting job, leaving Moore and fellow veteran David Garrard to duke it out for the No. 2 spot. For Moore, being a backup in Miami still isn't a sure thing, and this reality could leave him looking for a new job in two weeks time. 

Over his five-year career, Moore has shown glimpses that he can perform at this level. In 2011, his only extended starting opportunity, Moore threw for 16 touchdowns and just nine interceptions in 12 starts for the Dolphins. Those are rather admirable numbers considering his only real target was Brandon Marshall.

Only 28, Moore could be the perfect combination of youth and experience that Green Bay is looking for. He can still improve, and that should make him an intriguing prospect for the Packers' highly regarded quarterback development program.

Rex Grossman

Much like Jackson in Seattle, Rex Grossman has essentially been run out of town after the Washington Redskins drafted two quarterbacks in the offseason. Second overall pick Robert Griffin III has been assured of his starting role, while fourth-round pick Kirk Cousins will be his backup for the foreseeable future.

With two rookies ahead of him on the depth chart, Grossman has hit a dead end in the nation's capital.

Despite public perception, Grossman is a solidified veteran in this league. People often forget that he led the Bears to the Super Bowl just six seasons ago. His career numbers may not jump off the page, but this is a veteran who has seen and done it all, and knows what it takes.

Not that the Packers need someone like that as a backup, but this is a role Grossman is familiar with. Put him in the right setting, and he has the ability to do some unexpected things.