During the draft on Thursday night, the Green Bay Packers surprised the NFL and Packer Nation by trading up with the Miami Dolphins to select Utah State quarterback Jordan Love at No. 26 overall.
Though Love was expected to be a first-round pick, no one thought the Packers would have been the team to take him because they have star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and were expected to draft a player who could help him out on the field during the final years of his contract (it expires in 2024).
Love certainly won’t do that — but he still may help Rodgers and the team.
First, Love may play the role 36-year-old Rodgers fell into when he was drafted by Green Bay 15 years ago: successor.
When the Packers picked Rodgers out of Cal at No. 24 overall in 2005, they had a 35-year-old Brett Favre at quarterback who was not ready to relinquish the reins to the team. Though many probably wish it happened sooner, Rodgers took over as the starter in 2008 after backing up Favre for three seasons and led the team to a win in Super Bowl XLV two years later.
“A lot of these guys turn out to be (a) bust because they fall in the wrong situation.”
Mitch, Pauly, and Matt discussing Jordan Love’s draft stock and where he could potentially be selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.@MitchMossRadio @PaulyHoward @MattYoumans247 #FollowTheMoney pic.twitter.com/0Z59QvXSnJ
— VSiN (@VSiNLive) April 13, 2020
No one is saying Love is Rodgers now — he’s widely believed to be a boom-or-bust prospect — but after three seasons backing him up, maybe, just maybe, he could be.
Even if he isn’t, the move to take Love, which is being ripped by many, could still be a win for the Packers.
Green Bay fans should be hoping the selection of Love is analogous to the 30th pick of the 2014 NFL draft when Bill Belichick pulled a Jedi mind trick and the Patriots selected Jimmy Garropolo, much to the dismay of their incumbent starting quarterback, Tom Brady.
“We know what Tom’s age and contract situation is,” Belichick said after the pick. “I don’t think you want to have one quarterback on your team. I don’t think that’s responsible to the entire team or the organization.”
Brady, like Rodgers is now, was 36 at the time and had not won a Super Bowl in a decade, despite playing in two. Previously known for his maniacal offseason preparation and dedication, Brady had begun spending more time in California and was opting to train on his own instead of with the team in New England.
Once the team picked Garropolo, that all changed and Brady re-dedicated himself to the team in much the same way he had in his early years. Having legit competition behind him forced Brady to stop being complacent and compete for a job that had been his by default. The result was the Patriots going to the Super Bowl four times in six seasons, winning three.
If drafting Love can light a fire under Rodgers’ ass the same way picking Garropolo lit a fire under Brady’s, the selection will be more than worth it.
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