Spring 2020 was a historically weird time. It was election season, the Patriots dynasty finally ended, and oh yeah, there was also a worldwide pandemic that shut everything down.
The NFL Draft that year was no different. There was no stage, as all participants (including Commissioner Goodell) had to stay at home during the event.
The picks that year were also bizarre, as well as all-time great. Joe Burrow was selected at number 1, and has already etched his name in the NFL history books. Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jalen Hurts were all also chosen for their franchises, and all 3 of them are seemingly the long-term answers for their team.
Green Bay Packers At Cincinnati Bengals 52
There was also a 5th QB taken, and unlike those other guys didn’t get a chance to shine until this past year. Packers fans know Jordan Love well. First, they hated him – or at least the pick. Now they love him, as he too looks like he’ll be a force to be reckoned with for decades.
But he wasn’t the only player chosen by Green Bay in that draft.
Is Jordan Love Considered A Bust?
The reaction to Love’s pick was perhaps the most memorable thing about the draft. Not Burrow or the Eagles passing over Justin Jefferson. No, Cream City and the entire national media for that matter was livid at the Packers front office. Who hasn’t seen the viral Pat McAfee reaction from that day?
Aaron Rodgers wasn’t too happy with that pick either, although he does seem to like Jordan Love as a friend and mentee. With Rodgers leaving for the Jets, a move which may not have happened if the Packers didn’t choose Love,
With the context out of the way and a full year of Love starting behind us, the choice can now be viewed as a win. Sure, the Packers may have fared better short term if they went with Patrick Queen or another valuable non-QB player. That doesn’t mean they would have won a championship, however, as the team was good enough to go all the way in both 2020 and 2021.
They just didn’t get it done.
Is Aaron Dillon Considered A Bust?
A slightly less controversial pick, but fans were still upset since Green Bay already had Aaron Jones. If the Packers selected a WR here, maybe the Jordan Love rage would have subsided quicker. Instead, all Dillon’s selection did was rub salt in the wound.
With all that being said, Dillon has been pretty good thus far. His impact was felt immediately, gaining 5.3 yards per carry his rookie year. He and Jones have made up the best RB duo in the league the past few years, although Dillon’s production did take a huge dive in 2023. It’s not expected for this duo to last much longer, given the cap space and Dillon’s rookie contract coming to an end soon.
What Ever Happened To TE Josiah Deguura?
The Packers finally got the fan base the receiving weapon they desired in the 3rd round, albeit Josiah Deguura was a tight end and not a wide receiver. Unfortunately, Deguura never reached elite status and is already out of the league. He got 225 yards and 2 TDs in 2021, and that’s about it for the Cincinnati alum.
The Green Bay Packers 2020 Late-Round Picks
Deguura was the first of the flame-outs from this draft. LB Kamal Martin, FS Vernon Scott, and OL Jake Hanson never really amounted to much in the league. Other players such as Jon Runyan and Jonathan Garvin played somewhat for the Packers, but are no longer with the team.
In hindsight, the controversial picks from the Packers turned out to be the best players. Jordan Love is the next big thing, while AJ Dillon has done a pretty good job all things considered. Everyone else from the draft? Well, thankfully the Love pick working out will overshadow all of that.
