At this time last year, there were murmurs around the Green Bay Packers of whether or not they’d bring in a veteran quarterback to act as an insurance policy for Jordan Love. They had just drafted Sean Clifford in the fifth round and besides Clifford, the Packers only had Danny Etling to play the backup role if anything happened to Love. Etling was later released and USFL star Alex McGough was brought in during camp, but neither Clifford nor McGough were thought to be legit starters if something happened to Love. Unless you take preseason action vs other teams’ roster bubble squads as a test of true talent, in that case, I can’t help you. Nonetheless, the Packers stuck with Clifford as their QB2 entering and throughout the entire season with McGough on the practice squad.
Fortunately, this did not happen with Jordan Love in a season where many QB2s had to take the field as their room leader went down with an injury. But Clifford did take 13 snaps at QB during the season. It was mostly to kneel the ball or hand it off, but he did have the chance to complete one pass for 37 yards that helped seal the deal against the Minnesota Vikings. Though I wouldn’t quite call him starter material yet, Clifford seemed to be a worthy QB2 to at least manage the offense if needed.
As usual, when the season ended, there was a tiny bit of chatter around the backup QB position. Would they stick with Clifford at QB2, or would they go elsewhere? That was answered pretty quickly at the end of February at the NFL Draft combine when GM Brian Gutekunst commented that he wanted to “get back to drafting multiple quarterbacks.” While the small-minded took this as a slight to Jordan Love, those of us who know better knew it was a comment that they wanted to always keep competition stiff for QB2. When you have your franchise quarterback, it’s always a good idea to keep developing at the position behind him. If God forbid QB1 goes down, then you have the best you can get to pick up the slack. If that never happens, maybe you have an interesting trade piece to dangle in front of QB-needy teams.
Gute’s comment was solidified last week when the Packers drafted Tulane QB, Michael Pratt in the seventh round of the 2024 draft.
Pratt to Challenge Clifford
Michael Pratt was a four-year starter at QB for Tulane. In that time he started 44 games where he threw 90 TD passes, 26 INTs, and had 28 rushing TDs. He was projected to be a 4th or 5th-round pick but ended up falling into the Packers’ laps in the 7th at pick 245. The reason for Pratt’s fall is concern over an injury that hampered him throughout the 2023 season. There’s been quite a bit of chatter that before the injury, there’s a chance Pratt would’ve been selected in the 2nd or 3rd round. So, for the Packers to land him in the 7th, a round considered to be very low-risk is perfect for finding out which Michael Pratt they might get.
Regardless of whether the Packers get a QB that could’ve been a day 2 pick or later, the challenge to current QB2 Sean Clifford is clear. Both QBs are fairly similar. They both kind of lack an elite NFL QB arm, they both have a high football IQ, they’re great leaders, and have some big wins to their credit in college. Perhaps one of the glaring differences between the two, however, is age. When this season kicks off, Sean Clifford will be 26 years, and 2 months old. Michael Pratt will be 22, and about 11 months. To give you a reference, Jordan Love is only 25, turning 26 on November 2nd.
Why does this matter? Well, NFL teams take this into account for when you may see certain skills start to deteriorate. When Sean Clifford’s rookie contract expires, he’ll be approaching 29 years old. Pratt will be almost 26. Let’s say Clifford is QB2 behind Jordan Love that whole time, regardless of his play, the Packers may be reluctant to pay a 29-year-old backup more than the minimum to sit on the bench, they’d likely rather go younger for their QB2. Let’s say though that he shows he could be a serviceable starter by that time, maybe the Packers decide to trade him before his rookie deal expires. Given his age, it’s unlikely a team will pay top draft capital for an older less experienced starter. Pratt, however, if in the same situation could be a different story. After Michael Pratt was drafted, it was even being said on the draft progress that the Packers were going to be developing him for someone else.
Developing the Skillset
If you’ve followed my writings or random rants at all the last few years, you’ll know I’m a Tom Clements aficionado. If there’s a positions coach that deserves his own exhibit in the Packers Hall of Fame when he decides to call it a career, it’s QBs coach Tom Clements. His work with Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Jordan Love is the thing minstrels strum and sing about as they follow behind him when he walks around the Packers campus. And if he doesn’t have his own designated minstrels, he should.
Whether Michael Pratt will be trade bait in the future or not, he has to be thanking his lucky stars for the tutelage he will receive in Green Bay whether he starts or not. It was already on film during the first practice of rookie camp, Clements behind Pratt showing him proper positioning and technique. If there’s a coach that can pull the best out of a quarterback, it’s Tom Clements.
It’s been a long time since the Packers have carried three quarterbacks into a season. With the ability to occupy that QB2 position Sean Clifford showed, and the potential Michael Pratt possesses, it may be tough to send either of them through waivers. If it were done today, I’d say given 32 teams passed on Pratt how many times, he could probably be snuck to the practice squad. But after he puts some tape together in Packers camp and the preseason, it could be difficult.
If you ask me, I think this could be the year the Packers carry three QBs into the season. The big question though is who will be the direct backup. Not that I’m down on Sean Clifford, but I feel even if the two have a comparable camp, the Packers may give that spot to Michael Pratt. He’s the most intriguing of the two prospects and could have other teams calling up Brian Gutekunst quickly with trade offers if he shows out. That 7th round investment could have a high payoff. But it doesn’t happen if they slot him at QB3.
Source: Clifford to Get Worthy QB2 Competition From Michael Pratt
