I Wonder What Is Going Through Jordan Love’s Head Right Now
The Packers Have Some Decisions To Make
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It has been nearly 3 years since Packers GM Brian Gutekunst made the bold decision of drafting Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft with Aaron Rodgers still on the roster. A move that almost no one saw coming that sent shockwaves through the NFL.
Speculation ran rampant as people wondered if the Packers were ready to move off of Aaron Rodgers. Many complained that the draft pick was a waste considering it wouldn’t help the Packers until Aaron Rodgers left Green Bay. Lots of Packers fans were hoping that the first rounder had been spent on a player that could help the Packers in their pursuit of a superbowl with Aaron Rodgers as their QB.
The reality is that teams have to plan for the future before it arrives. Brian Gutekunst made the decision to draft a young QB to prepare for an eventual future without Aaron Rodgers, just like when the Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers in 2005 when Brett Favre was still the starter.
I don’t fault Brian Gutekunst for making the pick. If Jordan Love goes on to become a high level starter in the NFL the Packers will look like genius’ once again after going from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers.
On the other hand if Jordan Love doesn’t live up to expectations Gutekunst will be criticized for the draft pick. Sometimes you have to take swings when you don’t know what the result will be. Aren’t you glad the Packers ended up drafting Aaron Rodgers even though the Packers still had Brett Favre? It took some time to realize just how great the decision to draft Aaron Rodgers was, and the same could end up being true for Jordan Love.
The move to draft Love was likely one of the contributing factors that led to the rift between Brian Gutekunst and Aaron Rodgers. Luckily things got resolved in the 2021 off-season and Brian Gutekunst stated that he could have handled the situation better and been more honest with Rodgers about the possibility of the Packers drafting a QB.
As the off-season has started for all but 2 teams in the NFL the player that has been at the forefront of most debate is Aaron Rodgers. Just like last season everyone awaits Aaron Rodgers decision.
Will he retire? Will he come back to Green Bay? Will he get traded? Who knows. Everything is on the table.
I really wonder what is going through Jordan Love’s head right now. Aaron Rodgers decision affects Jordan Love just as much as it does himself. The only difference between the two is that Jordan Love has absolutely no control over the situation.
If Rodgers returns, Love will be a backup for the 4th straight season, unless he tries to get traded. While I don’t think it’s likely that Love and his agent attempt to get out of Green Bay, you can’t rule anything out. On December 12th I wrote about Love’s response when asked if he’s be willing to sit out again if Rodgers returns and here was his response to Packers reporter Jason Wilde:
“That’s something me and my agent will talk about. We’ll figure that out.”
When Love said that I was a little surprised. I assumed his answer would be something like “Of course”. Is there a chance Love and his agent would try to send him elsewhere to give him an opportunity to start?
As I’ve stated in the past I don’t think Brian Gutekunst has any desire to trade Jordan Love.
He’s waited for 3 seasons while Jordan Love has developed and learned under Aaron Rodgers. Love knows Matt Lafleur’s system and with the uncertainty of when Aaron Rodgers could call it quits I don’t see Gutekunst trading Love this off-season even if Aaron Rodgers returns.
The Packers would be foolish to have let Love leave this off-season. If Aaron Rodgers returned to Green Bay for 2023 and then retired after the season we’d be stuck with no QB and the future would look much more bleak. Even though we don’t fully know what we have in Love, at least there is a chance that he could come in and be a solid QB for the Packers. It would be a shame to sell an investment right before it has its chance to show its value.
The only way Jordan Love gets traded this off-season in my opinion is if Brian Gutekunst deep down doesn’t believe in Love’s potential. If there is even a 5% chance in Gutekunst’s mind that Love can be a top 10 QB in the NFL he should hold onto him.
It’s crazy to remember that Jordan Love was drafted in the same class as these QBs who have now had years of starting experience:
Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts.
Joe Burrow has already led his team to a superbowl and Jalen Hurts who was drafted in the second round now has a chance to lead his team to a super bowl this weekend.
Jordan Love has to be wondering when his time will actually come. He deserves the opportunity to start very soon. As a competitor I bet he hopes 2023 will be his year.
While he has had to wait, Love is following in the footsteps of Aaron Rodgers whose patience sitting behind Brett Favre for 3 years paid off. When Rodgers time came he was ready to take over. Love has had one of the greatest mentors at QB anyone could ask for. Even though he’s had to be more patient than other QB’s drafted in his same draft class, the time he’s gotten to develop could pay huge dividends.
After the preseason Matt Lafluer mentioned that Love is “lightyears ahead” of where he was in seasons prior and Aaron Rodgers even said this in August:
“I think he’s definitely become a master of the offense.”
Love still has to go out and prove it before everyone will be ready to recognize him as a great QB in the NFL, but things seem to be heading in the right direction.
The other big decision coming this off-season for the Packers is whether to exercise Jordan Love’s 5th year option. This decision has to be made by the deadline on May 1. If the Packers exercise this option Love will make around a guaranteed $20 million in 2024. If the Packers are confident in Love they could very likely exercise the option to ensure him not becoming a free agent after the 2023 season.
If Rodgers does come back to Green Bay in 2023 and the Packers decide to exercise Love’s option, that could be a sign that Love will take over in 2024. It would be tough to have around a $20 million guaranteed contract with Love while also paying Rodgers.
Decisions, decisions.
So many things could change in the next few months.
Let's just let Aaron alone a bit! Relax! I think it is such a shame how bad media is.... if they aren't bashing on someone or outright lying, they think they aren't doing their job.
Rodgers/Love sounds good for ‘23
Giddyup! 🧀😄