Green Bay Packers: Drafting Jordan Love a move for present and future

For the Green Bay Packers, the selection of first-round quarterback Jordan Love appears to be a move for both the present and future. Here’s why.

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst pulled off a shrewd move in the 2020 NFL Draft by trading up in the first round to select Utah State quarterback Jordan Love, dealing a fourth-rounder to the Miami Dolphins in the process.

While the move wasn’t necessarily shocking — the Packers had met with Love several times during the pre-draft process — it was still a minor surprise to see Green Bay elect not to equip their future Hall of Fame quarterback with a high profile weapon.

Aaron Rodgers, who turned 36 in December, isn’t getting any younger, so using a high draft pick to select his future successor can be understood. But was the selection of Love really only a move for the future?

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When factoring in Rodgers’ age and recent injury history, perhaps Gutekunst and the front office also wanted to secure a stable backup option behind their star quarterback.

In 2017, Rodgers missed nine games due to a broken collarbone he suffered in Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings. In Week 1 of the 2018 season, Rodgers suffered a tibial plateau fracture and MCL sprain in his knee against the Chicago Bears, injuries that he would play the entire season with. Unsurprisingly, Green Bay missed the playoffs in both seasons.

During the 2017 season, Brett Hundley took over for Rodgers, leading the team to a 3-6 record as the starter while throwing for nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

It’s been a long time since the Packers last had a backup quarterback capable of stringing together two or three consistent performances should Rodgers ever fall injured. The last established backup the Packers had was Matt Flynn, who last played in 2014.

During the 2013 season, Flynn started five games in relief of Rodgers (collarbone), leading the team to a 2-3 record with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. He led an incredible comeback win against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15, rallying from 23 points down at halftime and finishing with 299 yards and four touchdowns.

Flynn’s consistent performances in 2013 helped keep Green Bay’s playoff hopes alive and, in Week 17, Rodgers returned to lead the team to an NFC North-clinching victory over the Bears.

Green Bay’s current backup quarterback, Tim Boyle, is a former undrafted free agent who’s thrown four career pass attempts. Make no mistake about it, the Packers drafted Love to be both a capable backup and future starter.

Love is one of the most tantalizing prospects from the 2020 draft. His best throws make you say “wow”, while his worst have you wondering what he was thinking. There’s no question the talent is there, though.

Love possesses ideal size (6-4, 224 pounds), playmaking ability and arm talent, but has been plagued by his decision-making and accuracy over his college career. He threw for 8,600 yards, 60 touchdowns and 29 interceptions in 32 career games at Utah State.

Hopefully for Green Bay, Love won’t need to see any real game action for a few years. Developing under Rodgers and coach Matt LaFleur will only allow him to hone his skills. That said, based on his current resume, Love is more than capable of stepping in for a few games if Rodgers ever gets injured.