The Green Bay Packers went into the 2020 NFL Draft with their first pick coming at spot 30.
By the end of the first round, that changed. Green Bay traded up in the draft, giving up a spot at 30 and other later picks to acquire pick 26 from the Miami Dolphins.
There were many areas that fans felt that Green Bay could use some help, but General Manager Brian Gutenkunst and his staff went other ways, selecting former Utah State Quarterback Jordan Love.
Many fans reacted furiously to the selection. In a wide receiver heavy class, why not grab Aaron Rodgers, arguably one of the best Quarterbacks of the decade, some help with the team’s first pick?
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said that the Quarterback had Top-10 potential after the combine. A big part of that is his arm strength.
Love is seen by many as a talent with unteachable traits. Love has the ability to throw the ball deep, slinging it with no hesitation and seeing holes in the defense that not many Quarterbacks see as easily.
However, with the “let the ball fly” pro comes the con. While Love threw for a combined 60 Touchdowns at Utah State, he also was picked off 29 times.
Love likely will not take over the starting job from Rodgers in his rookie season. Regardless, he will get to learn under one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks.
While some Packers fans might not believe Love is a quality pick, remember this. Flashback to 2005 and you will see similar circumstances to the Love selection. Green Bay had a Hall Of Fame Quarterback in Brett Favre and selected a Quarterback in the first round.
Fifteen years later, Aaron Rodgers is still with the franchise, helping the team bring the Lombardi Trophy home in 2011 and earning two MVP awards in the process.
Now, Green Bay and their fans will hope that history can repeat itself, and Love can do the same as Rodgers’ successor.