Tulane’s Michael Pratt won’t be confused for Caleb Williams or Drake Maye – although he did help lead Tulane to a shootout win over Williams and the Trojans in 2022 – but the right-handed gunslinger will almost certainly be an NFL Draft pick in 2024.
Pratt, who stands at 6’2” and weighs 200 pounds, won’t wow teams with his speed or overpowering arm, but he has NFL tools. Pratt throws a nice deep ball, possesses decent arm strength, and is viewed as a top-tier leader.
If a team is looking for a developmental quarterback with clear ability as a backup and starting upside, Pratt fits the bill. Look for him to be selected in the middle rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Tulane’s Growth
Pratt started for Tulane in 2020 and 2021, playing respectably well for a team that was average at best. In 2022 and 2023, Willie Fritz’ program took a major step forward.
Tulane won 23 games between the two seasons, and Pratt looked like the best quarterback in the Group of Five. He tossed 49 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions over the two years, averaging over eight yards per pass attempt in each season. Pratt’s deep ball accuracy was a plus during the later stages of his career, as stretched defenses vertically and created chunk plays through the air.
He even added 15 rushing touchdowns over the two seasons, flashing enough mobility to likely impress NFL scouts. While Pratt isn’t a game-changing rusher, he can move the chains with his legs. NFL teams will likely advise Pratt to slide or avoid contact whenever possible, but he willingly ran into contact at times at Tulane to fight for extra yardage.
As Tulane improved as a program, so did Pratt as a player. The veteran leader was a reliable constant presence for the Green Wave in 2022 and 2023, and he’ll long be remembered as a Tulane great.
His toughness – it became common for Pratt to make quality throws in the face of pressure – should attract NFL attention. Again, Pratt isn’t nearly as flashy as some of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, but he’s a reliable passer and gritty competitor.
Pratt possesses the ability to immediately become a team’s backup quarterback, and there’s enough talent there that he could develop into a starter in the right schematic fit.
Good Senior Bowl
Positive reviews from the Senior Bowl should only solidify Pratt’s NFL Draft credentials. Media covering the event reported he impressed them with his play, and he was also actively chatting about plays and routes with receivers during practices. Pratt’s leadership reportedly impressed teams.
It’s anyone’s guess where exactly Pratt will get selected, but he figures to be a Day 2 or Day 3 selection.
Pratt won’t join an NFL team as a projected 2024 starter, but he’ll be on someone’s roster (likely as a backup) to begin the season. Pratt checks plenty of boxes teams look for when seeking quarterback depth. If Pratt finds the right scheme, it’s possible he pleasantly surprises a franchise and grows into a successful long-term starter.
Bennett Conlin is a college football contributor for HERO Sports, and he works full-time covering sports betting industry news and legislation for Sports Handle and US Bets.
