Last season, the Green Bay Packers all but handed the backup quarterback job to Sean Clifford, whom they selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Of course, Clifford was part of the Packers’ new-look quarterback room, which featured Jordan Love as the starting quarterback.
Earlier in the offseason, Green Bay had decided to move on from four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers in favor of Love. This decision had a trickledown effect for the rest of the room, as Green Bay needed a new backup and practice squad quarterback.
While Love had an overall phenomenal first season as the Packers starter, Clifford did not have to do much more than kneel down a few times. While he played well in the 2023 preseason, Green Bay still wanted to create competition at the backup quarterback position.
And it is a good thing they did.
The Green Bay Packers Made the Malik Willis Trade Following the 2024 Preseason
In order to create competition at the position, the Packers used one of their seventh-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft on quarterback Michael Pratt. The idea was that Pratt and Clifford would compete to be Love’s backup this season. Whoever lost the competition would be cut and re-signed to the practice squad.
Unfortunately, neither Clifford nor Pratt played well in the 2024 preseason. It was obvious that, if Love got hurt, Green Bay would be in serious trouble with either one of them having to start a game or two (or more).
So, Brian Gutekunst made the decision to trade for Malik Willis from the Tennessee Titans and instantly made him the backup quarterback. Pratt was released and ended up signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Clifford was cut and re-signed to Green Bay’s practice squad.
As it turned out, Love did get hurt and Willis had to step in to start two games early in the season. Green Bay won both those games while the former Titans quarterback completed 74.4% of his passes for 380 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 130.3.
Needless to say, the Packers are not 7-3 (barring the outcome of their game against the San Francisco 49ers) without Gutekunst making that Willis trade.
The Green Bay Packers Have a Better Quarterback Situation than Many NFL Teams
Going into the season, very few could have predicted the immense need for quality backups multiple teams in the NFL would need. What is more, few could have predicted how poorly multiple starters would play.
Rodgers, the former Packers quarterback, is having the worst season of his career while the New York Jets have completely blown up their front office. There are rumors that he wants to play in 2025, but not for the Jets.
The other Big Apple team, the New York Giants, recently granted their starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, his release after he was benched in favor of Tommy DeVito. What is more, the Giants had him playing scout safety during practice this past week.
Now, Jones is a free agent and looking for a new team in 2024. There is no shortage of options for him as the 49ers may be without Brock Purdy for a while if his shoulder takes longer to heal. The Las Vegas Raiders, too, may be in need of a quarterback as Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew have both been disappointing.
Green Bay, meanwhile, has the security of a solid staring quarterback and, arguably, the best backup quarterback in the NFL.
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