The Green Bay Packers recently released Danny Etling, cutting their quarterback room from four to three. That leaves the Packers with Jordan Love, former USFL MVP Alex McGough, and rookie Sean Clifford.
We know that Love will be the starter, but the Packers have listed Clifford as Love’s backup heading into the first preseason game. Reports are that Clifford is comfortably ahead of McGough for that second spot.
Clifford will get a chance to show what he’s got playing against the team he grew up cheering for. His family had Cincinnati Bengals season tickets when he was growing up.
There were plenty of questions surrounding the Clifford pick. He was rated as a priority free agent by most scouting outlets, but the Packers felt strongly about him and the run of quarterbacks in the fifth round was enough to persuade Brian Gutenkunst to take him
The rookie from Penn State has been playing well in training camp and impressing the coaches. SI’s Bill Huber talked with Clifford, and the rookie quarterback offered some insight into what he’s thinking going into the preseason:
I feel like earlier in my career at Penn State, I looked forward to the NFL too much sometimes and it came to bite me. I don’t think about a week, two weeks from now. I’m thinking about what, “Did I do this practice to get better for tomorrow’s walk-through practice?” And that walk-through practice will take me through the practice against the Bengals. Those little ebbs and flows of that, that’s generally what I focus on.
Clifford emphasized that he’s just trying to focus on getting better day by day and not looking too much into the future. Staying in the moment and focusing on his self-improvement:
I never try to put unnecessary pressure on myself, especially when a month from now is still a month from now. I’d rather focus on what I can do today and what I can do tomorrow to get myself better in the moment. Those little wins and stacking day by day, I feel like, that’s always been my mantra and that’s how you continuously improve. I’m just focusing on what I can control right now.
A good performance in the preseason will help him lock down the backup quarterback spot. In 2016, the Dallas Cowboys named Dak Prescott, a rookie fourth-rounder, their starter after he went 39 of 50 passing (78.0%) for 454 yards with five TD passes, two rushing touchdowns, and no interceptions. Those were some crazy numbers from the rookie out of Mississippi State.
Clifford doesn’t need to do that to solidify his position behind Jordan Love. The former Nittany Lion just has to show he can be competent under center. Clifford is a developmental quarterback. He doesn’t have any outstanding traits athletically, but the Packers liked his leadership and football IQ.
The Packers are taking a huge risk having two quarterbacks this inexperienced behind Love. The Packers took Clifford in the fifth round. They believe in him, and he’ll be given the opportunity to show what he can do. As a rookie fifth-round pick and not an off-the-street free agent like McGough, the Packers will have a longer leash with Clifford. McGough will also have a chance to see the field, but he’d need to meaningfully outplay Clifford to beat him out for a roster spot. It’s unlikely the Packers choose to keep three quarterbacks on the initial 53.
If Clifford can’t step into the spotlight, the Packers may need to search for another backup. But the Packers may be content with just letting him learn from his mistakes and rolling with the punches. The lack of a veteran with NFL experience in the quarterback room leads me to believe that the Packers will just let the quarterbacks grow and learn regardless of the result. If they were going to bring someone else in, they would have done it already.
Even if Clifford does have a sub-par performance in the preseason, the Packers will give him more chances. Jordan Love has been mediocre in the preseason. All the Packers need from Clifford is a decent performance. He just has to show some poise, the ability to read the play, and give his receivers a chance.
Clifford does not need to come in and be a superhero. If he can show that he at least has some ability to play the quarterback, then the Packers are in good hands.
