The Packers shocked the football world by trading up four spots in order to select Utah State’s quarterback, Jordan Love. After falling one game short of the Super Bowl, many fans questioned the sanity of the Packers for choosing a quarterback with their first pick. After all, the Packers still need another wide receiver and inside linebacker. In addition, the window is still open to “win now” with Aaron Rodgers. Why go after a quarterback when your future Hall of Famer still plans on playing for a long time? Here are three reasons why we can actually “love” Jordan Love.
A Backup with a Real Purpose
Ever since Matt Flynn left Green Bay, the Packers have struggled to get a backup quarterback who can effectively fill in if Rodgers gets hurt. Players such as Deshon Kizer, Brett Hundley, Seneca Wallace, and Tim Boyle have all donned the Green and Gold to provide insurance for Rodgers. Each time Rodgers has been hurt, it has been obvious that the Packers are lost without him.
Not since Matt Flynn have the Packers had a backup who could be a legitimate starter in the league. Even Flynn lost his job before he even officially started it (Russell Wilson was picked and outplayed him). Even though Jordan Love has no NFL experience, he has much more talent than any other backup the Packers have had in a very long time. If Rodgers does go down, the Packers will still have a fighting chance.
Aaron Rodgers Will Not Play Forever
Aaron Rodgers is one of the best players to ever play the game. There is no disputing that. However, all good things come to an end. Tom Brady is in Tampa Bay; Brett Favre played for the Vikings; Joe Montana played for the Chiefs. A time is coming when Rodgers will no longer be able to play on a high level, and the Packers need to be ready.
When the Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers, it was clear that he was the heir-apparent to Brett Favre. Favre had already talked about retirement on multiple occasions. While this situation is not very similar to 2005, it does show us that having a capable backup who knows the system is very beneficial. It also shows us that sometimes it is better for the reins to be handed over to the next man up. To be clear, this does not mean that Jordan Love is the starter in 2020, 2021, or even 2022. Even the Packers said it is not appropriate to name him the heir-apparent just yet. It just means that the Packers are trying to be ready for the future.
Jordan Love Is a Good Quarterback with a Ton of Potential
Admittedly, Jordan Love had a poor 2019 season. He threw for 3,402 yards and 20 touchdowns, but also had a whopping 17 interceptions. However, it should be noted that he had a new coach and many new players that contributed to his struggles. 2018, though, was a great year for Love. He threw for 3,567 yards and 32 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He has above-average arm strength and is able to make the long down-field passes.
While he struggles with looking off defenders and improvising on broken plays, those are areas in which Aaron Rodgers excels. Spending a few seasons learning from a great quarterback like Rodgers will only help Jordan Love. The Packers have been fortunate to have 26 straight seasons with a franchise quarterback. Hopefully Love, under the tutelage of Rodgers, can continue the tradition.
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