Aaron Rodgers all over again? Packers trade up, pick Utah State quarterback Jordan Love
After the Green Bay Packers lost in the NFC championship game last season, it seemed like they would draft a receiver or someone else who could help Aaron Rodgers get back to a Super Bowl.
Instead, the Packers took Rodgers’ apparent successor.
The Packers traded up with the Miami Dolphins and drafted Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th pick of the draft. It wasn’t hard to draw a parallel to that and the Packers taking Rodgers 24th overall in 2005 when they had Brett Favre as their starter.
In some ways, it’s a good situation for Love. He has a lot of physical talent but needs some development, and he won’t be starting over Rodgers this season. On the other hand, Love now steps into a position in which he’s next in line after almost three decades of Hall of Fame quarterback play from Favre and Rodgers. There will be pressure, especially since the Packers passed on getting immediate help for Rodgers. And they traded up to get him.
Rodgers is 36 and it has been a few years since he looked like the best quarterback in the NFL. Still, he should have quality years left. Favre ended up starting three more years after Rodgers was picked. Maybe that history will repeat itself too.
Obviously the Packers fell in love with their newest quarterback. They have other needs, and were very close to a championship run last season. But they ignored those to trade up for a quarterback who might not start for a few years.
It took a few hours, but the Packers made the most intriguing pick of the first round.
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