The Green Bay Packers have far fewer questions at the quarterback position than they did last season. After the team traded four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, Jordan Love took over as the starting quarterback. The decision to move on from Rodgers was an unpopular one among many fans and NFL analysts. Fortunately for the Packers, Love turned out to be exactly who they thought he would be.
Last offseason, Love played significant snaps in preseason games in order to get much-needed experience. In the Packers’ first preseason game of 2024, Love threw two passes and then was taken out of the game.
In other words, Green Bay no longer has to worry about whether or not their starting quarterback will be good. They know he is (and they gave him a $220 million extension because of it).
The Green Bay Packers Have a Competition for Backup Quarterback Behind Jordan Love
Last offseason, the Packers made waves among some of their fans by selecting quarterback Sean Clifford from Penn State in the fifth-round of the 2023 NFL Draft. At the time, many took it as a sign that the organization did fully believe in Love.
However, with the trade of Rodgers and the promotion of Love, the Packers were without a backup quarterback, and they picked Clifford to fill that role. They did the same thing in 2008 when Rodgers took over as their starter by picking Brian Brohm in the second round and Matt Flynn in the seventh.
Prior to the 2024 NFL Draft, general manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters that he wanted the Packers to go back to their days of being a quarterback factory. During the Brett Favre Era, numerous NFL starting quarterbacks got their start serving as one of his backups. That list of quarterbacks includes noteworthy stars like Matt Hasselbeck, Mark Brunell, and Aaron Brooks (even future Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner spent some time in Packers training camp).
True to his word, Gutekunst used one of Green Bay’s seventh round picks this year on another quarterback: Michael Pratt.
The plan is for Clifford and Pratt to battle it out in training camp and preseason games for the role of Jordan Love’s backup.
Green Bay Packers Quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt Have Been Scrutinized by the Media
Throughout Green Bay’s offseason activities and training camp, the backup quarterback battle is one that has been watched very closely. This means that both Clifford and Pratt have been under the microscope of public opinion.
Early reports from training camp indicated that the Packers’ defense was feasting while the young quarterbacks were practicing. Clifford especially has been prone to interceptions during practice.
In Green Bay’s 23-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, both backup candidates saw plenty of playing time. Clifford completed 10 of his 19 passes for 111 yards and a 70.3 passer rating. Pratt completed five of his seven passes for 46 yards and a passer rating of 89.0.
Neither quarterback necessarily played poorly, but neither really separated himself in the competition to be Love’s backup.
NFL Analyst Believes the Green Bay Packers Should Trade for “Talented” New England Patriots Quarterback Bailey Zappe
For months, numerous NFL analysts and reporters have argued that Green Bay would be better off if they traded for a veteran quarterback to serve as Love’s backup. Former Tennessee Titans Pro Bowler Ryan Tannehill was a popular name thrown around in such arguments.
However, Colin Keane of The Sporting News believes that New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe would be a better fit. He wrote:
“[One] option for Green Bay at backup quarterback is Bailey Zappe of the New England Patriots.
“Zappe looked solid in New England’s preseason debut on Saturday, going 12-of-20 for 104 yards.
“The problem for Zappe in New England is that he’s highly unlikely to see any meaningful action this season stuck behind both Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye on the depth chart.
“Zappe would have greater opportunities in a place like Green Bay, where he’d legitimately compete for the backup role, not to mention be joining a football team with higher potential in 2024 than the Patriots.”
As mentioned, the Packers want to go back their days of drafting and developing quarterbacks and then trading them away for more draft picks. While it may be tempting to name a veteran quarterback as a possible free agent or trade target for Green Bay, it goes against what they have publicly stated their plan is going forward.
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