The Green Bay Packers selected 11 players in the 2024 NFL Draft. Of course, first round pick Jordan Morgan, an offensive tackle from Arizona, may be the highest profile draft pick because of where he was drafted. However, Green Bay has several other notable draft picks, such as Edgerrin Cooper, Javon Bullard, and Marshawn Lloyd.
Every year after the NFL Draft, the league invites 40 draft picks to an event called the Rookie Premiere. This event is, basically, a photo opportunity where select rookies will don their new team’s uniforms for the first time in a marketing setting. The photos taken will be used to create memorabilia such as football rookie cards.
Earlier this week, Tom Garafolo of NFL Network posted the list of the 40 rookies who the NFL invited to this year’s Rookie Premiere. Unsurprisingly, the top four NFL Draft picks (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Marvin Harrison Jr.) were included.
The Packers have two of the 2024 NFL Draft picks on the list, and one of them is quite the surprise.
Green Bay Packers Picks Marshawn Lloyd and Michael Pratt Were Invited to the NFL Rookie Premiere

According to the list, third round running back Marshawn Lloyd and seventh round quarterback Michael Pratt were the two Packers draft picks selected. Lloyd’s inclusion is not that big of a surprise because he was widely considered one of the best running backs in the class. Furthermore, many expect him to have a solid season and career with the Packers.
Pratt, however, is a bit of a surprise. As mentioned, the NFL Rookie Premier is meant to create marketing materials using images of recently drafted players. Pratt is going into the Green Bay offseason in a battle for the backup quarterback spot with Sean Clifford, who was drafted in the fifth round of last year’s NFL Draft.
In other words, there is no guarantee that Pratt will make the Packers’ roster, making his selection to this even a little confusing.
Interestingly, Clifford was also invited to the event last year. He represented the Packers along with wide receiver Jayden Reed.
Why Did the NFL Pick Green Bay Packers Quarterback Michael Pratt for the Rookie Premiere?

The NFL does not explain why they invite certain players and not others. The top four picks were selected for obvious reasons: they are highly marketable and/or play for teams with a large fanbase. There is a great deal of money to be made by selling products with their images on them as soon as possible.
But what about Pratt? The Packers do have a large fanbase themselves as evidenced by their selection to play Week One of the 2024 season in Brazil. Fans also tend to hold their second and third string quarterbacks in high regard. Kurt Benkert became a sort of folk hero in Wisconsin during his only season on the Packers practice squad.
With last year’s practice squad quarterback, Alex McGough, switching positions to wide receiver, it stands to reason that Pratt will at least earn a role there, if not beat out Clifford for the backup role. Still, it was an odd decision for the NFL to choose him over a more marketable rookie like Bullard.
The Wisconsin Badgers Had a Player Selected to the NFL Rookie Premiere As Well

Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen was also invited to the NFL Rookie Premiere. This selection is not a surprise at all, given the fact that he is playing in one of the biggest markets in America on a team that is frequently in the headlines (thanks to former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers).
Allen was drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by New York. He is currently listed as the backup running back on their depth chart behind Breece Hall.
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