Penn State QB Sean Clifford taking official top 30 visit with Packers
By Paul Bretl
Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford will be taking an official pre-draft visit with the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. As part of the pre-draft process, the Packers can have up to 30 official visits.
Clifford didn’t attend the NFL Combine but at his pro-day he measured in at 6’2” – 218, and posted an elite Relative Athletic Score of 9.02, including a 4.62-second 40-time. He had nearly 500 rushing yards during the 2020 season.
Clifford is an experienced starting quarterback with 1,473 dropbacks over four seasons. He is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Nittany Lions’ history, totaling 10,061 passing yards and 82 touchdowns. In 2022 specifically, Clifford completed a career-high 64% of his passes at 7.7 yards per attempt, another career-high. He also threw 22 touchdowns to seven interceptions.
Clifford was a reliable presence under center for several years at Penn State, where he was careful with the football and effective off play-action. In his sixth college season, however, he didn’t really stand out in any one area either.
Clifford will be a Day 3 option for the Packers or perhaps even an undrafted signee. For a closer look at his game, here is what Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network wrote:
"“Clifford was a terrific QB four years running at Penn State and is the school’s all-time leader in completion percentage, passing yardage, and passing touchdowns. Despite this, he lacks the arm strength and accuracy to be anything other than a third QB on Sundays.”"
The Packers will be searching for a quarterback or, more likely, two this offseason. Once Aaron Rodgers is traded, they will have only two quarterbacks left on the roster Jordan Love and Danny Etling. Green Bay will need to find a backup for Love while also making sure they have enough arms for the summer.
As I wrote previously, there is value in the Packers adding a veteran to backup Love in his first season, and Brian Gutkeunst commented on this as well. However, the Packers are limited in spending power and could look to the draft.
Although my guess is that Green Bay won’t add a quarterback early on in the draft, Gutekunst has surprised us before, and for what it’s worth, Ted Thompkins did spend a second-round pick and a seventh-round pick on two quarterbacks prior to Rodgers’ first season as a starter.
Other reported top 30 visits that the Packers will have are with Lew Nichols (RB) Darnell Washington (TE), Keion White (Edge), Will McDonald (Edge), Jammie Robinson (S), Jordan Howden (S), Hendon Hooker (QB), Dontayvion Wicks (WR), Marte Mapu (S/LB), Keaton Mitchell (RB), and Darnell Wright (OT).