Many may not realize it, but October 31 is an important date in Green Bay Packers history. No, it is not because it is the date on which they traded Rasul Douglas, finally embracing the 2023 NFL season for what it is: a rebuild. Instead, October 31 is the date on which the previous front office administration made a decision that Aaron Rodgers was their franchise quarterback and gave him a contract extension.
Of course, that decision was made in 2008, the first year Rodgers started as quarterback of the Packers. Fast forward to October 31, 2023: Rodgers is no longer with the team and his successor, Jordan Love, is in his first year as the starting quarterback. Halloween came and went with Love getting that contract extension, and general manager Brian Gutekunst recently revealed why.
The Green Bay Packers Need More Time to Evaluate Jordan Love
When addressing the media on Tuesday, Gutekunst was asked about where Love stood in terms of being evaluated by the organization and if they were close to deciding that Love was their new franchise quarterback, or if they would look to the 2024 NFL Draft.
While Gutekunst did express faith in Love, whom he traded up to take in the 2020 NFL Draft, he admitted that the rest of the offense has played so poorly that it has been impossible for the Packers to fairly evaluate Love:
“I think it’s been a work in progress for the entire offense. There’s been glimpses, particularly in the second halves, of really good football. But we have not started very well. So, I think that group, that unit as a whole has a lot of work to do. But at the same time, they’re kind of committed to the process, believe in that group of guys and expect better results coming.
“When the group as a whole is not functioning the way it should function, then it’s hard to evaluate anybody. At the same time, it’s on us to get that right so we can move forward and evaluate the guys we have in that room. But yeah, when we’re not clicking, it’s tough to evaluate anything.”
Gutekunst’s full interview can be seen below”
LIVE: #Packers GM Brian Gutekunst meets with the media 🎙️ https://t.co/ucwonAJfsY
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 1, 2023
This belief that the entire offense needs to play better around Love echoes what head coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday, the day after the Packers lost to the Minnesota Vikings (at home) and Love’s wide receivers dropped more than six passes.
Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers Have Not Put Jordan Love in a Position to Succeed
Of course, the Packers organization, particularly Gutekunst, has no one to blame but the front office for the team’s struggles so far this season. When Brett Favre and Rodgers took over as the starting quarterback of the franchise, they each had Pro Bowl offensive linemen and established Pro Bowl wide receivers.
Love, of course, does not. While he started with David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins on his left side, Bakhtiari is out for the year and Jenkins has underperformed. Instead of the five-time Pro Bowl left tackle, Love has a second-year former seventh round pick protecting his blindside (though Rasheed Walker is in danger of losing his job).
Instead of finding a reliable veteran wide receiver, Gutekunst and the Packers decided to roll with their second-year wide receivers and rookies. Favre had Sterling Sharpe. Rodgers had Donald Driver. Love has… Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Samori Toure.
During his press conference, Gutekunst did admit that the wide receivers he has put around Love have not met the expectations he had for them going into the season.
Also during the press conference, Gutekunst stated that these next 10 games will be vital in evaluating Love and which players on the offense fit into their future plans.
Seems dubious.
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