Aaron Rodgers left a huge void behind when the Green Bay Packers traded him to the New York Jets.
Jordan Love will try to replace the four-time MVP under center, and Green Bay added insurance by drafting Sean Clifford in the fifth round. The former Penn State star got a special surprise from Rodgers.
Fanatics produced a video of Rodgers and other NFL legends motivating NFL rookies. Rodgers had a special inquiry for Clifford.
“Welcome to Green Bay,” Rodgers said. “How’s my locker, by the way?
Here’s a pre-season pep talk from the Rookie Premiere that these @NFL rookies will never forget #FanaticsLockerRoom
Good luck to all the rookies! pic.twitter.com/zZEeInX85I
— Fanatics (@Fanatics) June 8, 2023
Later in the video, Stetson Bennett received a signed Rodgers jersey. The veteran wrote that he “loved watching you play at Georgia.”
Clifford threw 86 touchdowns during five seasons with the Nittany Lions, but he can’t be reasonably expected to fill a future Hall of Famer’s shoes. The 24-year-old is instead fighting for the QB2 role behind Love, and he appears to be making a strong case.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky declared Tuesday that Clifford “might’ve run one of the best two-minute OTA drills by a rookie fifth-round pick.” Assuming he also got a jersey from Rodgers, Clifford has a souvenir to hang in his locker — perhaps the one that previously belonged to Rodgers.