When the football season is taking a break, Packers fans need other things to do to stay busy. That is certainly the case at the moment with the 2020/21 season not due to start until early September. While Packers followers in New Jersey could fill their time with games at NJ live dealer casinos, others may choose to keep up with the latest football news during the off-season instead. That is an excellent idea as it means you still get your football fix and are in the know of what is happening at Lambeau Field.
When it comes to major team news, the recent 2020 NFL Draft is still worth talking about. Among the moves made by Matt LaFleur in this year’s draft, the pick of talented young quarterback Jordan Love caught the eye. After all, the last regular season was decent with a 13-3 record in NFC North, and Aaron Rodgers will still be around to power the team along again next time out. Who is Jordan Love, and why did the Packers pick him up?
The name is Love….Jordan Love
It is probably fair to say that the Packers raised a few eyebrows when they moved up to Number 26 pick in the draft to bag Love. So, who exactly is this young rookie with the world now at his feet in Green Bay?
Love played his college ball for Utah State and impressed in his time there to earn his pro move. He has a powerful arm and throws the ball with high velocity and accuracy. Love also showed in his college days that he could throw deep and also throw well if unbalanced. While his passing game is his major strength, he also has good athleticism and speed to run the ball.
Having said all that, Love is a little too raw yet for regular action in the NFL and will certainly not be starting ahead of Packers star man Rodgers. So, why did the Packers make such a bold move for him?
A little bit of history repeating itself
Many Packers fans will remember the planning that was needed to ensure a new player was ready to replace Brett Favre when the time came. That saw a young Aaron Rodgers drafted, and it was a move that gave the inexperienced Rodgers time to grow as a player. In essence, it looks like the Packers have made the same play again. If it is true, it makes perfect sense – grooming Rodgers to succeed Favre worked out, so why not repeat the same pattern?
While Rodgers has not announced any retirement plans as yet, he is now 36; common sense tells you he only has a few years left at the top level and that bringing in an exciting talent now to take over is wise. The Packers do not want to see Rodgers retire or leave without anyone ready to take on his mantle. While we do not know exactly when the team will have to move on from Rodgers, it seems likely that it will be in a couple of years at most due to his current contract ending in 2023.
Green Bay is the right place for Love
What also works so well about picking up Love in the draft is that Green Bay is the ideal place for him to develop. As we have already noted, he is not ready to start in the NFL right out of college and will thrive in the encouraging environs of Lambeau Field. Love will now be able to improve and sharpen his game under experienced pro coaches, which will help no end.
Of course, the other great thing is that Rodgers is still there to pass on his knowledge for a while. There is no doubt that he has been one of the best quarterbacks the NFL has seen in recent years. That leaves him with a lot of advice to pass on, which could help Love become the next great QB for Green Bay.
Love could be the next great Packers QB
Running a successful NFL team is all about balancing out the need to perform now with planning for the future. With the selection of Love, Matt LaFleur seems to have planning for the future well covered. If Love develops as expected, then he could well be the next superstar quarterback for the Packers and carry on their habit of producing top players in that vital position. For the next few years, while he learns his trade, the Packers have a fired-up Rodgers to bid for Super Bowl glory along with a talented current roster that could smash up the league in 2020/21.