Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur hinted after Saturday’s preseason finale that the team’s backup quarterback might not currently be on the roster. Just two days later, that prediction came true. On Monday, the Packers traded a 2025 seventh-round draft pick to the Tennessee Titans for quarterback Malik Willis, according to sources close to the situation. Willis is expected to serve as the primary backup to starter Jordan Love this season.
Throughout the summer, the Packers held a competition between second-year player Sean Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt for the backup quarterback role, a position Clifford held last year as a rookie. Clifford was a fifth-round pick in 2022, while Pratt was drafted in the seventh round this year.
While both quarterbacks had promising moments during training camp and preseason, neither did enough to convince the coaching staff they could reliably step in if Love were to be sidelined.
Following the preseason finale, LaFleur was asked whether he felt confident in the current options behind Love. His response, “We’ll see,” hinted at the possibility of an outside addition. He further elaborated, saying, “There were some really good moments, and then there were some things we have to do better. We’ll evaluate everything that’s out there for us.”
The Packers may retain Clifford or Pratt, at least temporarily, while Willis gets up to speed with the playbook. With just 11 days until the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, expecting Willis to immediately step into the No. 2 role could be a tall order. However, sources suggest that Clifford is “likely gone,” meaning he could be released by Tuesday’s mandatory roster cut to 53 players. If so, Pratt may either secure a spot on the initial 53-man roster or land on the practice squad if he clears waivers. In the latter scenario, he could serve as a game-day elevation from the practice squad.
The Packers have invested heavily in Jordan Love, the 2020 first-round pick who signed a four-year, $220 million contract earlier this training camp. Securing a reliable backup is crucial for a team with such high hopes for their young starter.
For the Titans, Willis was caught in a numbers game behind starter Will Levis and backup Mason Rudolph. Despite showing improvement in his first season under new head coach Brian Callahan, the Titans appear to be prioritizing depth in other areas, possibly keeping four tight ends and running backs, making Willis expendable.
During a Monday press conference, Callahan hinted at the decision, noting that while the NFL’s revised third-quarterback rule might seem like a free roster spot, it actually requires a real 53-man roster commitment, something the Titans were not prepared to offer.
