The Green Bay Packers have a long history of success when it comes to finding and developing quarterbacks, thanks in large part to former general manager Ron Wolf. Wolf, who was with the Packers from 1991-2000, took a quarterback in seven of his 10 drafts, even after trading for Brett Favre. Current Packers GM Brian Gutekunst seems to be following in Wolf’s footsteps, recently using a seventh-round pick on quarterback Michael Pratt. Gutekunst expressed his desire to add a quarterback to the roster, and Pratt was the best option available at that point in the draft.
Gutekunst’s decision to take Love in the first round of the 2020 draft, despite having Aaron Rodgers on the team, has proven successful thus far. He also found a quality No. 2 quarterback in Sean Clifford in the fifth round of last year’s draft. Now, with the addition of Pratt, the Packers are hoping to continue their success in developing young quarterbacks. Pratt, a four-year starter at Tulane, has impressive college stats and a reputation as a winner, leading his team to a 23-5 record over the last two seasons.
While some scouts have raised concerns about Pratt’s arm talent, his success on the field speaks for itself. Gutekunst and Packers coach Matt LaFleur both praised Pratt’s toughness, fearlessness, and winning mentality. LaFleur was pleasantly surprised that Pratt was still available in the seventh round and is excited to see what he can bring to the team. Pratt is also looking forward to the opportunity to compete and learn from his new teammates and coaches, including his friend Sean Clifford, who he met at the Manning Passing Academy.
As Pratt prepares to make the jump from college to the NFL, he is focused on continuing to improve his accuracy, mental understanding of the game, and knowledge of offensive schemes and protections. He recognizes that there will be challenges ahead, but he is eager to embrace them and continue growing as a player. With the support of the coaching staff and his new teammates, Pratt is ready to start this new chapter of his football career with the Green Bay Packers and contribute to the team’s tradition of developing successful quarterbacks.
