Packers NFL Draft Suprise: Pick QB Jordan Love In The First Round

GREEN BAY, WI — The Green Bay Packers pulled off an NFL Draft night surprise Thursday by selecting Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round. The Packers added to the intrigue by engineering a trade with the Miami Dolphins to acquire the 26th overall pick to draft Love. The Packers gave Miami their 30th overall pick and a fourth round pick to complete the trade.

Adam Hoge of NBC Sports Chicago wrote that he wanted the Packers to draft a quarterback last year, and sees the situation in Green Bay as an ideal fit.

"He needs time to develop in the NFL and he absolutely needed to land in a place that could allow for that happen," he wrote Thursday night. "New Orleans and Green Bay were the best fits for Love. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst saw the opportunity and pounced, moving up from No. 30 to No. 26 to land the guy they hope takes Rodgers’ job."

A scouting report on NFL.com says Love is a smooth and natural thrower with a strong arm and a confidence to throw the deep ball. Yet scouts said he had below-average decision-making abilities when opposing defenses played zone. Scouts said despite an outstanding sophomore year, Love's consistency and production took a step back in 2019.

Then there's the dynamic with Aaron Rodgers.

Fifteen years ago, the Packers drafted Rodgers with the 24th overall pick in the NFL Draft when the team still had Brett Favre. On Thursday night, the team picked Love with the 25th pick with Rodgers still under contract for several more years. While the comparison makes sense on its surface, 15 years ago, Favre was in the middle of a multi-year tussle with Packer ownership over his retirement plans. Rodgers, by comparison, has stated he wants to play at least several more years and took a 13-3 team to within a game of the Super Bowl under the first year of coach Matt LaFleur.

Favre went on TMZ after the draft Thursday, offering reassurance that his former teammate has nothing to worry about. "Look, no one’s going to replace Aaron unless Aaron chooses to be replaced. There’s no worry for him that he’s going to be ousted. He’s too good of a player," he said.

Some say Rodgers should feel slighted by his team's selection of a quarterback in the first round.

"Rodgers would be completely justified in demanding a trade from the Packers, and seeing how this franchise, under the unsteady stewardship of Mark Murphy, notably a former defensive back in the NFL, will fare," writer Evan Siegel wrote on Lombardi Avenue.

Then there's the matter of Rodgers' contract.

Rodgers signed a four-year, $136 million contract extension in Aug. 2018. When you factor in all the cash, including various bonuses here's how it breaks down by year:

2020: $21.1 million
2021: $22 million
2022: $25.5 million
2023: $25.5 million

Skill Positions Predicted

NFL Draft experts predicted the Packers were going to go after a skill position in the first round, citing the need for Rodgers to have more talent around him on offense. A wide receiver or an offensive tackle were the two main positions discussed after OT Bryan Bulaga signed with the LA Chargers in the off-season.

Peter King of Pro Football Talk said the Packers would draft Michael Pittman, Jr., wide receiver from USC. "Professional receiver. Most have him in the second round. But the Packers don't pick again till 62, and they see a solid but unspectacular disciplined route-runner and competitive 50-50-ball player," King wrote.

Dan Kadar of SBNation said the Packers would pick Brandon Aiyuk, WR, from Arizona State. "Aiyuk would give them a receiver who can vary his routes, work the underneath game, and get deep," he said.

The NFL Draft analysts at Walterfootball.com thought the Packers would select Denzel Mims, WR, from Baylor. "The Packers are devoid of talent at receiver, save for Davante Adams. They desperately need to give Aaron Rodgers one more downfield threat."