The Green Bay Packers missed the 2022 NFL Playoffs with an 8-9 record. Following the season, Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets, allowing 2020 first round pick Jordan Love to take over.
Following Rodgers’ lead, wide receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb also signed with the Jets, leaving Green Bay with no seasoned veterans at the position. In addition, tight end Robert Tonyan signed with the Chicago Bears and Marcedes Lewis was not re-signed.
Instead of signing veteran free agents at these positions, the Packers drafted three more wide receivers and two tight ends in the 2023 NFL Draft. Their decision to do so, instead of spending what little cap space they had on experienced players, led on NFL analyst to say the team failed Love.
Have the Green Bay Packers Failed Jordan Love?
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently wrote an article in which he listed five teams that are “failing” their rebuild. While the Packers, at every level of the organization, have said they are not rebuilding, no one in the national media seems to be listening or believes them.
Related: Green Bay Packers- David Bakhtiari’s “Rebuild” Comments Are Being Misunderstood
In his article, Knox lists the Packers, Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as teams that are not doing a good job of “rebuilding.” In his opinion, the Packers have failed Love because:
“The Packers are starting over at QB with Jordan Love, but they have failed to surround him with proven talent. Green Bay parted with vets Allen Lazard, Tonyan, Randall Cobb and Jarran Reed while doing virtually nothing to replace them in free agency.
“What’s especially problematic is the fact that Green Bay got extremely young in its receiving corps. Second-year wideouts Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are not experienced leaders in a group that also includes rookies Luke Musgrave, Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft.
“That’s a potential issue because the Packers have just two seasons left with which to evaluate Love before he becomes a free agent. The 24-year-old has a single start on his resume and will largely learn on the fly along with his skill players.”
Admittedly, the Packers are very young. There is no denying the fact that no wide receiver on their roster has played a full NFL season’s worth of games. Yes, the two tight ends projected to get the most snaps are rookies.
That being said, what Knox fails to acknowledge is the fact that the Packers have one of the best offensive lines and running back duos in the NFL. While Love and his pass catchers may experience some bumps in the road during the season, the offense still has Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.
It is important to note that, without Rodgers under center, head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense is not going to rely as much on the pass as much as in previous seasons. The offensive attack will be much more balanced, taking a great deal of pressure off of Love.
In this sense, the Packers have not failed Love at all. Rather, they put him in a position to succeed right away with a stout line and talented backfield, and simultaneously have given him the chance to grow with his own crew of pass catchers.
Of course, there is much to be proven on the field of play, but to write off what the Packers’ have done as a “failure” before the regular seasons even begins is simply biased and uninformed.
Jordan Love and the Green Bay offense will make a lot of people look silly this season.
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3 Comments
They may rely on the pass just as much. It’s just going to be much more within the scheme, crossing routes and quick hitters designed to let talented players get YAC. They ARE going to make Love look great. And then maybe he’ll have time to get better on the deep ball if needs be.
Lol!
End the agony.
Fire Mark Murphy.