The Green Bay Packers were making some pretty solid decisions up until they decided to draft former Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford with the 149th overall pick in the fifth round of the draft. 

The Packers decided to forgo adding players to the safety position when and instead decided to take a quarterback that most considered to be an undrafted free agent. Clifford's Shrine Bowl MVP doesn't matter – his complete body of work reflects that of a UDFA.



It's hard to imagine this decision being a good decision when a talent like S Antonio Johnson was still on the board at the time of Brian Gutekunst's decision. I'm not being anecdotal when it comes to Johnson, either – The Athletic's Dane Brugler gave Johnson a 2nd/3rd round grade in his all-encompassing draft guide, The Beast.

Packers’ Round 5 Picks in the 2023 NFL Draft

Round 5, No. 149 overall: QB Sean Clifford, Penn State

This is a really weird decision, mostly because Clifford isn’t a very good prospect. He’s been scouted as likely undrafted free agent, so it’s pretty odd to see the Packers draft him before addressing the safety position.

General manager Brian Gutekunst talked about adding another quarterback once Aaron Rodgers was traded and it makes all the sense in the world to do so. But this pick is totally out of left field and honestly, I'd be very surprised to see Clifford win the No. 2 job over Danny Etling.

That's because two of Clifford's worst traits -decision-making and accuracy- are what any quarterback needs to survive in the NFL, even if they want to simply be a QB3. QBs lacking those two straights are often destined for the practice squad, at best.

A veteran option is still a good idea, too. Because if Jordan Love gets hurt, then the Packers are essentially screwed due to the lack of experience behind him. That's another reason why this pick will have people scratching their heads.

Round 5, No. 159 overall: WR Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia

So, the Packers decided to take yet another wideout with a history of dropping the ball. But, just like with the previous selections, the talent is there for Wicks to become a starter in the NFL. Which makes him a potential steal based off his draft position. 

He's not going to burn people, but he will beat people at the top of routes and he is good at adjusting to the ball. Round 5 is the worth the gamble because the sky is the limit for Wicks if the Packers can fix the concentration issues.

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• Round 5, No. 149 overall: QB Sean Clifford, Penn State
• Round 5, No. 159 overall: WR Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia