The Green Bay Packers have chosen their next main quarterback, but Sam Hartman could be a good backup option for the team in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Garrrett Podell with CBS Sports shared his selections for the Packers in a mock draft covering seven rounds, which included picking Cooper DeJean from Iowa in the first round and adding some offensive line help.
Podell also suggested the Packers should pick Hartman from Notre Dame in the seventh round to compete for the QB2 spot.
“The Packers have expressed their interest in adding competition for Sean Clifford at the backup quarterback spot, so they have chosen Sam Hartman as their final pick in the draft,” Podell wrote. “Hartman’s arm strength isn’t outstanding, but he could potentially be a reliable, game manager type of backup.”
Sam Hartman Scouting Report
If the Packers want another backup quarterback with a lot of college experience, there are not many better options than Hartman on Day 3.
Hartman was a 3-star recruit in high school and received very few offers. Wake Forest, Charlotte, and Elon were interested in him, but he ultimately chose to play for the Demon Deacons.
The move turned out to be the right one for Hartman, as he was a three-year starter for Wake Forest, earning two All-ACC team honors while throwing for 77 touchdowns and 26 interceptions in his final two seasons with the program.
After excelling at Wake Forest, Hartman transferred to Notre Dame for his last college season. He guided the Irish to a 9-3 record, throwing for 2,689 yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Hartman has a compact but sturdy frame at 6’1″ and 211 pounds. Although he may not have a strong throwing arm, he compensates by being a quick processor, capable of swiftly getting the ball out.
However, as a QB prospect with limited size, arm talent, and questionable decision making, Hartman will likely have to wait until the later rounds before he hears his name called.
Do the Packers Need Another Quarterback?
Jordan Love is the clear long-term option for the Packers at quarterback. However, the Packers may be seeking some competition for Sean Clifford as the team’s long-term backup.
Similar to Hartman, Clifford was a long-time starting quarterback in college at Penn State. While he may not have been the most talented quarterback, his strong athleticism and ability to make pre-snap adjustments led him to join the Packers in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Alex McGough is currently Green Bay’s third quarterback on the depth chart. At 28 years old, McGough saw most of his success come at the USFL level, winning two championships and an MVP with the Birmingham Stallions.
If the Packers do want some more competition behind Love, they’ll probably want a different type of skill set. Hartman may be too similar to Clifford to warrant legitimate consideration, but a prospect like Joe Milton III out of Tennessee with electrifying arm strength and athleticism could be a more worthwhile developmental backup.
Hartman could become a journeyman backup quarterback at the NFL level, but there may be another team that values him more than the Packers will in the later rounds.
