Packer nation, GM Brian Gutekunst told us before the draft that “getting back to drafting multiple quarterbacks is something that I’ve wanted to do”. In the last round of April’s draft, he was true to his word, selecting Michael Pratt with the 245th pick in the 7th round. I was stunned he was around that late, most assumed Pratt would go in the 4th round at the latest. Green Bay seems to have, once again, found a tremendous value for themselves at the Quarterback position. Lets learn more about the newest Packer QB!
Michael Pratt: Origins
Michael Pratt was born and raised in Boca Raton, FL. He spent most of his formative years being homeschooled by his mother and playing organized baseball. Michael was a standout Pitcher and Shortstop, the arm talent needed to do this would prove to be a bit of foreshadowing.
After eighth grade Pratt’s life changed dramatically. First, he stopped being home-schooled, and, second, he convinced his parents to let him play organized football. Michael has said “My whole life I always wanted to play, but I wasn’t allowed until high school.” Pratt enrolled at Boca Raton High School and developed a love for football as a freshman Quarterback for the JV squad. After earning the varsity starting job as a sophomore, he led Boca Raton to a 5-5 record as a junior in 2018, recording 1,208 passing yards, 447 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns.
Before his senior season, Pratt transferred to Deerfield Beach High School looking for better competition to improve his skills. Deerfield already had an established Quarterback but Pratt eventually took over the starting job and led the team to the 8A semifinals in the State playoffs.
A three-star recruit, Pratt was the No. 47 pro-style quarterback in the 2020 class and the No. 11 Quarterback in the state. After his second year as a starter, the college football offers began to arrive. Toledo was first, followed by Tulane, Western Michigan, Kent State and FAU. With a 4.0 GPA in high school, Pratt was also highly recruited by several Ivy League programs. He committed to Tulane in June 2019.
Michael Pratt: College Years
In his four years starting for Tulane, Pratt thrived. He showed the ability to steadily improve each season with the Green Wave. After three seasons at Tulane, Pratt was wooed by several Power-5 programs, but he was convinced to stay put. Michael threw a touchdown pass in 44 of his 45 games. He also broke Patrick Ramsey’s school records for passing yards and passing touchdowns. Pratt also led Tulane’s college football resurgence as a four-year starter, ending with their exhilarating Cotton Bowl victory over Caleb Williams’ USC Trojans.
Michael Pratt: Green Bay Packer
The draft gurus tell us that Pratt possesses above-average size for a Quarterback with a strong enough arm to make all the throws. He is very clean in his setup and delivers a quick, accurate stroke, they add. He apparently shows the ability to feather passes in between levels of the defense. I take them at their word.
Teammates and coaches unanimously praise Michael’s character and competitive habits. His former head coach Willie Fritz was quoted as saying “I’m guessing he probably works 350+ days a year on his craft.”
That’ll do, Michael. That’ll do.
Pratt fits nicely in the mold of prior Packer Quarterbacks taken before the team actually needs one. Pratt still has less than 10 years of playing organized football, and the need to develop is evident. But given his work ethic and promise shown in the last few years, the team is likely over the moon at the ability to bring Pratt along slowly. By the end of his rookie contract he should be a solid NFL backup who has the ability to win a game or two if called upon. That has high value in today’s NFL.
If Jordan Love is still performing at a high level at that time, the team would then look to trade Pratt for a draft-pick bounty. This story has all the makings of another Quarterback draft success story by the Green bay Packers.
(This article leans heavily on the work of Rob Reger and Dane Brugler)
