With the Aaron Rodgers controversy continuing this offseason, one question that many fans are asking is whether 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love is ready to take over as the starter if Rodgers doesn’t return or gets injured.To buy more
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When Love was drafted last year, most scouts agreed he had the talent necessary to eventually develop into a quality NFL starting quarterback, but he would need time to get there.
“Nearly every team source I spoke with feels Love is a developmental prospect who will need time on the bench to improve before being ready to play.”
Obviously, this was written before Love was drafted and before we knew how much the Covid-19 pandemic would affect the NFL season.
Last year, there were no live OTAs or minicamps, no preseason games and an abridged training camp that featured fewer live reps and less physical contact than a typical year.
Over the course of the 2020 regular season, Rodgers remained healthy and started all 16 regular-season games and both playoff contests. Not only that, but he enjoyed an MVP season, throwing for 4,299 yards and a career-high 48 touchdown passes while tossing only five interceptions. His 121.5 quarterback rating was the second best of his Hall of Fame career.
Because of the lack of offseason and preseason, the Packers kept Tim Boyle as Rodgers’ backup. Love was inactive for all regular season and playoff contests. He did not take a single snap during his rookie season.
Well, since the Packers lost to the Bucs in the NFC Championship Game in January, Boyle has departed to Detroit in free agency and Rodgers is now having a dispute with the Packers organization and indicated he may not wish to return to the team, the attention has turned towards Love. If Rodgers departs, is Love ready to take over as the starter?
GM Brian Gutekunst seemed to indicate he may not be. In his post-draft press conference when asked about Love, Gute told reporters, “He’s got a long way to go, but we’re ecstatic for his development. Obviously, we think the world of Jordan and where he’s going to grow and develop. I think it’s pretty early to be able to tell you that because obviously with no preseason games last year and just kind of the no-spring, but we have a lot of confidence in his talents, in his work ethic and where he’s going to go. But it’s a little early for that.”
Love is in a difficult situation and none of it was caused by him. If Rodgers stays, he will continue to ride the bench as the reigning league MVP continues to play. He won’t see the field except in a blowout game or if Rodgers gets injured.When Rodgers leaves Green Bay either via trade or retirement, whether in a few weeks or a few years, Love will have the difficult task of taking over at quarterback after two Hall of Famers were there. For the last 29 seasons, the Packers have had either Brett Favre or Rodgers at quarterback, two all-time greats at the position. Love will have a high standard to live up to whenever he takes over in Green Bay.