3 reasons why the Packers drafted QB Sean Clifford
By Joe Tuman
Out of all 13 picks Brian Gutekunst made during the 2023 NFL Draft, the selection of former Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford was arguably the most surprising.
Widely expected to be a seventh-round selection at best, Clifford instead came off the board in Round 5 as the 149th overall pick.
This move has been questioned and criticized in the weeks that have followed but, with the front office possessing so many picks, the opportunity to take a risk was there.
And while Green Bay Packers fans should have zero expectations for anyone besides Jordan Love to take snaps under center this fall, the need for depth behind him was evident.
So, what made Green Bay believe Clifford was the right choice to fill this backup role? There are several potential reasons.
Veteran instincts
Despite being a rookie, Clifford is nearly four months older than Love. Coming into the league, he brings six years of experience playing for the Nittany Lions.
After redshirting in 2017, Clifford later became the starting signal caller in 2019. He kept this spot for four seasons and earned the trust of head coach James Franklin as a leader on and off the field.
Across 51 career games, he tallied 86 touchdown passes and 15 scores on the ground while throwing only 31 interceptions. During his final season in 2022, Clifford set new career-highs with 24 passing touchdowns and a 64.4 completion percentage.
He's also been placed in plenty of high-profile situations throughout his career. Competing against some dangerous opponents within the Big Ten has seasoned Clifford and allowed him to get comfortable playing against elite talent.
He started three bowl games during his time in Happy Valley, earning a victory in both the 2019 Cotton Bowl and this past January's Rose Bowl.
While the 2019 win over Memphis was powered by running back Journey Brown, Clifford was a driving force for his team's 35-21 victory over Utah earlier this year.
Capping off the best season of his collegiate career in grand fashion, he threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns while completing 76.2% of his passes. The strong showing earned the longtime Nittany Lion a definitive moment, and may have boosted his stock in Gutekunst's eyes.