Last year, Jordan Love answered every question the Green Bay Packers had about the future of the starting quarterback role. Still, general manager Brian Gutekunst was adamant in the months leading up to the draft that he wanted to continue to foster competition within the position group. By selecting Michael Pratt out of Tulane in the seventh round, Gutekunst brought in a player many scouts were fond of to provide Sean Clifford with a worthy adversary in the battle for QB2.
Only 12 players were taken after Pratt in the 2024 NFL Draft, when the Packers made him the 11th and final quarterback selected at pick No. 245. After six quarterbacks were taken in the first 12 picks in the draft, there were none taken until pick 150, when Spencer Rattler finally came off the board. As other project players like Jordan Travis and Joe Milton III heard their names called on Day 3, Michael Pratt saw his name sit atop the “Best Quarterback Available” chyron until late in the seventh round.
Pratt had the accolades to hear his name called much earlier than it finally was, but his wait is Green Bay’s gain. He entered the draft with a fourth-round grade from NFL.com after a career in which the four-year starter from Tulane threw for over 9,600 yards and 90 touchdowns, adding 28 rushing touchdowns for good measure. He was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year this past season, led Tulane to a 23-5 record over his final two seasons, and his college career was highlighted by leading the Green Wave to a comeback win over Caleb Williams and USC in the Cotton Bowl in January 2023.
“Obviously a winner. He really turned that program around,” Gutekunst said of Pratt following the draft. “Started a lot of games for them. He’s a good athlete. He’s got a pretty live arm. Very accurate. Just like the way he handled himself. He had some big wins, so we’re excited.”
Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur agreed, adding that the Packers were surprised he hung around until the final round.
“I think he’s a guy that he definitely is a tough, fearless thrower and that to me is a prerequisite with the position,” LaFleur said. “You’ve got to be able to stand in there and throw in muddy pockets, throw in the face of pressure and I think he exhibited that. I think he’s a winner, so we were excited. We were kind of shocked that he was still there in the seventh.”
Understanding his role and what the Packers expect from their backup quarterback will be Pratt’s offseason focus, providing support to Jordan Love and competition with Sean Clifford. Love has stayed healthy through his three seasons in the league, including starting all 17 games a season ago, but there certainly could be a scenario where an ailment could call a backup into action. Having a backup who can make the accurate throws expected of him and keep the ship steady until the starter returns is a profound comfort for every team, and one not all of them have.
Pratt has at least one leg up on Clifford thanks to his youth and Green Bay’s roster construction. Pratt will turn 23 in September, while Clifford will enter his age-26 season. One element of drafting and developing a quarterback is the potential trade capital he could net in the future. If all other things were equal between Pratt and Clifford, the front office could point to the rookie’s youth as the reason to keep him. Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements has an unparalleled track record of developing talent, and even a few seasons under his tutelage could help Pratt trend closer to an NFL-caliber starter. The idea of having the Packers develop a starter for you would undoubtedly resonate with some quarterback-needy team.
Having concrete expectations for a seventh-round quarterback is putting the cart before the horse, but Michael Pratt has to be thrilled with his situation. Landing on a team with an established track record of development success, and without the immediate pressures that come along with the expectations of getting on the field ASAP, will allow him to find his footing at the pro level. What Pratt does with the situation obviously remains to be seen, but the potential is certainly there for this to be a home-run selection for Gutekunst and the Packers.