Today, the Green Bay Packers traded a 2025 seventh-round pick for former Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis. In his report on the trade, he writes: Sports illustratedBill Huber said through sources that they expect Sean Clifford to be released by tomorrow’s deadline.
Clifford is entering his second year in the NFL and was the team’s primary backup in 2023. Fortunately, he didn’t have to play much for the Packers, throwing just one ball in his rookie season. Clifford was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 draft, after a significant quarterback career, even though many had him projected as an undrafted free agent. If you recall, Green Bay didn’t have much salary cap space at the time, not even to sign undrafted free agents with signing bonuses, so signing a backup quarterback through the draft was almost non-negotiable for the team.
This spring, the Packers drafted Michael Pratt, the seventh overall pick, to try out Clifford. Clifford kept his spot on the second team throughout training camp, but Pratt earned a few opportunities to play in two-minute drills with the second team. In the final preseason game, Pratt and Clifford alternated for about two drives.
According to Huber, “Pratt’s fate is less certain.” There are some advantages to keeping three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, as the NFLPA just approved the league’s proposal to allow third quarterbacks from the practice squad to enter the game in an emergency. Since that proposal was rejected, an emergency quarterback would have to be taken off the 53-man roster, regardless of whether he is active on game day or not.
Huber also stated that the team will “likely” re-sign one of Clifford or Pratt to the practice squad if starters Jordan Love and Willis are the only quarterbacks remaining on the active roster. With Willis new to it, is Clifford’s experience in the system more valuable than Pratt’s long-term potential? That’s the question the Packers will have to ask themselves when deciding who to sign to the practice squad.
