Packers are excited about their new rookie quarterback
Michael Pratt.
The Green Bay Packers don’t want Michael Pratt to play in 2024. That would mean something terrible happened with Jordan Love, and with Love looking how he did at the end of 2023-24, that would likely mean the end of Green Bay’s Super Bowl hopes in 2024.
No, general manager Brian Gutekunst nor head coach Matt LaFleur have any intention of Pratt seeing the field outside of the preseason, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t excited about their seventh round pick out of Tulane.
The Packers have a long history of drafting intriguing backups who either end up being valuable members of the quarterback room or even valuable pieces on the trade market.
In Pratt, the Packers are hoping they’re getting just that. He was a four year starter at Tulane who threw for 9,602 yards and 90 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. He’s got great experience, and what was valuable for Gutekunst is that Pratt has experience winning football games.
Tulane went 23-5 over the last two seasons.
“Obviously a winner. He really turned that program around,” Gutekunst said after the draft, per Forbes “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.”
LaFleur also seemed excited the Packers were able to land Pratt, going as far as to say that he was surprised the quarterback was available in the seventh 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.”
Again, in the perfect world, Pratt never sees the field for Green Bay. In the perfect world, Love continues to grow as a star quarterback while staying healthy.
In the event the Packers need to go to a backup, though, they have to feel good about the intangibles they’ve found in Pratt. Even better? He’s good friends with the quarterback he’ll be fighting for second team reps with, soon to be second-year quarterback Sean Clifford.
“Just having that opportunity to continue our friendship and be able to push each other, be able to lead each other, learn from each other. I think it’s an awesome experience,” Pratt said.
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