The Green Bay Packers have had some pretty good fortune (and have done a lot of hard work) when it comes to the quarterback position. Starting with Ron Wolf trading for Brett Favre in 1992, the team has had a player that one could consider a franchise quarterback for over three decades. Favre, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, was succeeded by another future Hall of Famer in Aaron Rodgers. The four-time NFL MVP was traded to the New York Jets to make way for current starting quarterback Jordan Love.
While it is far too early to dub Love the next Hall of Fame quarterback of the Packers, there are two undeniable facts regarding his young career. First, he had a better first season as a starter than either Favre or Rodgers:
Second, he is about to become one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL. According to a former NFL agent, and based on Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff’s four-year $212 million extension, Love is set to make, at the very least, $50 million per year on his next deal.
The Green Bay Packers Still Want to Draft Quarterbacks
Despite their faith in Love as their starting quarterback, general manager Brian Gutekunst said (prior to the 2024 NFL Draft) that he wants Green Bay to get back to drafting and developing quarterbacks. In the past, NFL starting quarterbacks such as Matt Hasselbeck, Aaron Brooks, and Mark Brunell were all part of the Packers’ quarterback room as backups.
Needing a backup last season, the Packers selected Penn State’s Sean Clifford in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. In training camp, Clifford beat out USFL MVP Alex McGough (who is now a wide receiver) for the backup role.
While Green Bay was pleased with Clifford’s season, they remained committed to their plan to return to being a quarterback factor and drafted Michael Pratt from Tulane in the seventh round.
Where Does Michael Pratt Fit on the Green Bay Packers?
The question, of course, is where will Pratt fit on the Packers’ roster? Will he beat out Clifford for the number two role or will he be placed on the practice squad?
In a recent article in which they named the best team fits for quarterbacks taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, ESPN analysts named Pratt and the Packers one of the better player-team fits:
“Why he fits in Green Bay: It was surprising to see Pratt still on the board heading into the seventh round, and the Packers drafted a Day 3 signal-caller for a second consecutive year (Sean Clifford in 2023). An on-time and in-rhythm passer, Pratt is a clean operator from the pocket. His ability to create plays outside of structure will never be a factor that scares NFL defenses, though, which limits his ceiling. — Reid
“What will be his role? The Packers weren’t unhappy with Clifford, but the theme of their offseason was adding competition — so why not extend it to the QB2 position? Of Pratt, quarterbacks coach Tom Clements said, “He’s smart, he picks things up quick, he’s diligent … he’s athletic enough and he can throw.” The third quarterback will probably end up on the practice squad, so even if Pratt doesn’t beat out Clifford, he’ll likely be around.” — Rob Demovsky
As seen above, the Packers have been all about adding competition to certain positions this offseason (this is especially true of the offensive line). Pratt’s role is to create competition for Clifford, who will in turn drive Pratt to become better and better.
Neither is going to replace Love, but both could end being valuable trade pieces for Green Bay later.
