The Green Bay Packers appear to have their quarterback situation straightened out. After sitting behind future Hall of Famer and four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers for three seasons, the franchise took a chance on their 2020 first-round pick and gave him the keys to the offense. While the club struggled at first, Jordan Love and his young core of pass catchers finally came together and led the team to the NFL playoffs.
At this point last year, the biggest concern about Love and the Packers was whether he was good enough to be the team’s future. The greatest debate now is how much Green Bay should pay him after he had the finest first season of any starting quarterback in franchise history.
Do the Green Bay Packers face a battle for backup quarterback behind Jordan Love? Last season, after Love was promoted to starter quarterback, the Packers drafted Sean Clifford from Penn State to serve as his backup. Clifford wowed several fans throughout the preseason, with a small group of fans wanting him to replace Love at the time.
Prior to the 2024 NFL Draft, general manager Brian Gutekunst informed reporters that he wants Green Bay to resume the habit of choosing and developing quarterbacks, even though their own future at the position is secure. During Brett Favre’s tenure, the organization drafted and nurtured future NFL starters Matt Hasselbeck, Mark Brunell, Aaron Brooks, and, of course, Rodgers.
True to his word, Gutekunst and the Packers chose Tulane’s Michael Pratt in the seventh round of this year’s draft. Pratt was even chosen as one of only 40 rookies to attend this year’s NFL Rookie Premiere. Alex McGough, last season’s practice squad quarterback, has switched positions and will aim to make the team as a wide receiver this year. This means Clifford and Pratt will compete for the number two quarterback position, and whoever does not win will most likely be on this year’s practice squad.
NFL analyst encourages the Green Bay Packers to sign Ryan Tannehill as a backup to Jordan Love. Some NFL observers are concerned that Clifford or Pratt, as backup quarterbacks, lack NFL experience. Because of their concerns about the quarterback room’s inexperience, several observers believe Green Bay would benefit from signing a veteran to serve as backup. One of these analysts, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report, has proposed that the team sign former Pro Bowl quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
“The Packers are too good to rely on an unproven backup, and Ryan Tannehill could be the answer. Over the last five years, the 35-year-old has gone 39-24 as a starter with the Titans, with 151 career starts. “His days as a starter are done. In this regard, the market has had its say. However, he still has enough in the tank to be a solid veteran backup who could win a few games with the Packers’ current roster.”
While this may make sense to media members and fans outside of Green Bay, it is just not how the Packers operate. They are dedicated to this quarterbacking style and are unlikely to change it in order to sign a 35-year-old quarterback.
