NEWSLETTER
The Green Bay Packers did something unexpectedly weird on Day 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft, trading up in the first round to draft a quarterback.
And in an even more unexpected twist, the Packers were nailed for their roll of the dice:
The Jordan Love pick is just so surprising to me. You’re basically telling a 13-3 roster that you don’t think they were good enough to add a weapon for Rodgers and attempt to run it back. It feels like you’ve given up on now and are worried about 3/4 years from now.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) April 24, 2020
"My issue is that last year, they were one game away from the Super Bowl… They didn't get Aaron Rodgers another weapon, they got him a headache."@PSchrags | @JayGlazer | @joelklatt pic.twitter.com/JIZYRhVQka
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) April 24, 2020
WTH are these quotes?
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst
on what the Jordan Love pick means for Aaron Rodgers: "We’ve got the best quarterback in the NFL and we plan to have him for a while”
on Love being Rodgers’ eventual replacement: “I don’t think you can put that on him right now” pic.twitter.com/w7bXHxnAfn
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 24, 2020
Oh. My. Goodness.
This type of drilling is generally reserved for when the Bears pick a quarterback. To see the Packers get grilled over a questionable quarterback decision is something I thought I’d never live long enough to see.
There’s no official reaction from Rodgers, but there’s this:
“I’ll tell you what Aaron Rodgers thinks [about #Packers taking Jordan Love last night] …. He’s pissed off.” – @peter_king to @DaleKeefeWEEI just now.
— Courtney Fallon (@CourtneyFallon_) April 24, 2020
Here’s hoping “pissed off” Aaron Rodgers doesn’t take his anger out on the NFC North. Few players show up to the playing field with a bigger chip on their shoulder than the dude who wears No. 12 for the guys in the mustard and relish uniforms. I’m not saying, I’m just saying.
I imagine this is going to be awkward:
GM Brian Gutekunst: "I haven't connected with Aaron (Rodgers) yet."
— Olivia Reiner (@ReinerOlivia) April 24, 2020
Not that front offices need input from players when transactions are made, but I feel as if checking in with the face of your franchise is a sensible ask. Especially when Aaron Rodgers was public about his request for the Packers to use their draft pick capital on improving a 13-3 team that was a few bounces away from securing the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs.
I don't know who needs to hear this, but there's a difference between the Aaron Rodgers draft day fall in 2005 and the Jordan Love selection.
-Favre was annually waffling retirement
-Rodgers was discussed as no. 1 overall pick & fell
-GB hadn't just given Favre major extension— Ian Kenyon (@IanKenyonNFL) April 24, 2020
There are going to be some obvious parallels drawn between the Packers taking Love in 2020 and their selection of Rodgers in 2005. Though, I’m not sure the two have all that much in common beyond the surface. Rodgers was in the mix to be the first-overall pick before falling into the Packers’ lap. Love’s evaluation was all over the board, though his immense arm talent and highlight-reel plays made him someone who was in-play to be the fourth QB taken in Round 1.
The Patrick Mahomes comparisons for Love will be there, as will ones that are far less flattering. Such as this:
Jordan Love is undeniably talented but he is SOOOOOO DeShone Kizer-y.
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) April 24, 2020
DeShone Kizer is the poster boy for having all the tools with no tool box.
Another significant difference in the timing is that Favre was constantly flirting with retirement as he advanced in age. Rodgers has shown no signs of slowing down, nor has he offered up any hints that retirement is on the horizon.
It all adds up to a major decision looming in 2022:
Going into the 2022 NFL season, the Packers will have the following decision:
A. Allow Rodgers to start, and face Jordan Love’s fully guaranteed 5th-year option decision after 2022 without having seen him play
B. Start Jordan Love, and eat $17M in dead cap for Aaron Rodgers
— BradOTC (@BradOTC) April 24, 2020
I can see the value in having a backup quarterback with as much upside as Love. But if he doesn’t get to play at any point in the next three years, Green Bay will be forced to make a decision based on a player they’ll have evaluated only in preseason games. That’s a considerable risk. So much so, it makes me think this selection was made with the goal to flip Love before the team has to make a difficult decision between a young up-and-comer and an all-time great veteran. Think about the call the Patriots made when choosing to trade Jimmy Garoppolo and ride out the Tom Brady experience into his 40s.
You know it’s bad when the Vikings coach is getting his jokes off:
Mike Zimmer on Packers drafting Jordan Love “I think Rodgers should retire.”
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) April 24, 2020
In the end, it all boils down to this:
Brian Gutekunst made a decision tonight that either set up the #Packers for contention after Aaron Rodgers, or wasted a first-round pick (and a fourth rounder) in the remaining Rodgers window. So, yes, the stakes are pretty big. Smart choice? Only time will tell.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) April 24, 2020
If you squint, you can see how the Packers’ decision might have turned out to be helpful for the Bears (and the rest of the NFC North, I guess). Because instead of immediately making the team better with a possible impact first-rounder, Green Bay’s selection of a quarterback pushed a quality non-QB prospect down a slot. Every one of those helps the Bears get closer to a skill-position prospect who can help their own team.
Could Jordan Love develop into a quarterback who ultimately tortures the Bears on an annual basis? Sure. We’ve seen how this story plays out and none of us like it. But this Packers regime has yet to prove it can draft and develop quarterbacks (looking at you Brett Hundley and DeShone Kizer). So the jury is out until further notice.
