Most people did not expect Quarterback Sean Clifford to be drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The question heading into the 2023 NFL draft was who was going to be Jordan Love’s back-up? Were the Packers going to draft a Quarterback in the first three rounds? Were they going to wait until after the draft to pick up a veteran QB?

The Packers answered that question on the third and final day of the NFL draft last month by drafting Clifford in the 5th round.

Here is what you need to know about the newest quarterback in the Packers QB room.

College Career

Clifford attended Penn State from 2017 until last season.

While he redshirted his first year, he backed up Trace McSorley in his second year in 2018. He gained the starting job in 2019.

In 2020 he fended off fellow 2023 NFL draft pick Will Levis to retain his starting job and Levis transferred to Kentucky.

In five years at Penn State, Clifford started 46 games, had 10,661 yards and 86 touchdowns along with 31 interceptions and a 61.4 completion percentage.

Last season he started all 13 games, had 2822 yards passing and had 24 touchdowns. He also only had 7 interceptions all season and led Penn State to the Rose Bowl.

Clifford left Penn State as the team’s winningest quarterback and all-time leading passer.

What Clifford can bring at Quarterback to the Packers

Clifford can bring something some rookies can’t bring and that is experience.

Coming from a big-time program like Penn State, Clifford has a lot of experience in big time games and stepping into Lambeau Field will be an easy transition for Clifford.

Clifford has also had to battle a lot of obstacles while he was at Penn State.  He won the starting job at Penn State twice, and regained the job after being benched in 2020. He also has been knocked out of games, left one with a depleting illness and played half a season at half strength, and ran a new offense through COVID all while going through 4 different offensive coordinators while at Penn State. That experience will help him make that transition to the Packers and the NFL a lot easier than most NFL rookies.

The Packers QB room has a younger feel to it now with Aaron Rodgers gone. But the Quarterbacks on the roster right now have a lot of potential and hopefully with time will grow into the roles they’ll have.

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Hau Khuong has been a Packers fan since 1996. He currently works as a video editor in Green Bay and writes for PackersTalk.com and you can follow him on twitter at @HauKhuongSports.

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