Quietly sitting in the shadows throughout the Aaron Rodgers/Packers saga has been Jordan Love. The 2020, 1st round pick of the Green Bay Packers was inactive through Rodgers’ 2020 MVP Season and has yet to play in a preseason game. The Packers have had tumultuous times arise in Titletown and the future of the franchise hangs in the balance.

Jordan Love, someone who the Packers have long-term plans for, has been going about his business status quo. What could be going through the head of the young quarterback is a difficult guess. The Utah State Graduate who tossed 32 touchdowns next to 6 interceptions in 2018 has an NFL future in front of him, yet how that plays out exactly is a major question mark.

QB Jordan Love at Utah State

We live in a time where highly touted rookie quarterbacks don’t sit anymore like Aaron Rodgers sat for 3 entire seasons from 2005-2007. If an NFL Team drafts a Quarterback in the 1st or 2nd round, they will more than likely be playing in their rookie season. In the 2019 and 2020 Drafts, we saw Kyler Murray, Daniel Jones, Dwayne Haskins, Drew Lock, Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love and Jalen Hurts be drafted in Rounds 1 or 2. All have played significantly besides Love.

When you look at those players, it’s a mixed bag of results. Players like Kyler Murray and Justin Herbert are bonafide stars that were rightfully thrown into the mix early. Others could’ve benefited greatly with a longer time frame to learn, mature and develop.

As I write this, there are people who believe Jordan Love should be the Packers starting QB in 2021. When you factor in Love being a 1st round investment and the overwhelming nature of the Aaron Rodgers drama, some are ready to move forward and give the young quarterback the keys to the franchise, especially when he’s drawing comparisons to Patrick Mahomes.

Personally, I don’t believe that to be the right move. Aaron Rodgers aside, the lack of OTA’s and pre-season last year robbed Love the chance to get valuable practice and in-game NFL reps. Additionally, what does it say that Love was inactive throughout the course of 2020, especially as a 1st round pick? As someone who isn’t a Packers coach or player and didn’t see Love in practice, I don’t know how jaw-dropping or lackluster he was during those sessions. Here’s what Packers Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said about Love in March of 2021:

“It’s going to be a challenge for him. Obviously, we don’t know what’s going to happen right now with how we’re going to be able to work with the players. I think, always, being in the system for a second year is huge for the quarterback, understanding the language, understanding how we go about our everyday process.

“Even just being able to get out there and practice — I mean, that’s huge. So I think for him, it’s just growing more in the offensive system, even more than he already has. Just making it his own. … Obviously, we’re very excited if we can be able to practice because I think that’s something he needs. The last time he was able to really get after the practices was in training camp. So if that’s kind of what we’re dealt, then it’ll be training camp when he can really make some strides and get those full-time, speed reps. Besides that, it’s about studying and he’s got to work on his own because we don’t get to see him.” – Source: Myles Simmons, profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

What’s next for Jordan Love still remains a mystery and only time will reveal the next chapter. Regardless of what happens with Aaron Rodgers, the potential growth Love has made from Year 1 to Year 2 will be revealed soon, as the Packers start OTA’s on May 24th.

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Alex grew up in a family of Chicago Bears fans in the suburbs of Chicago but was always a Packers guy. Alex\'s AIM name when he was in elementary/middle school was PackerAlex. He now lives in Nashville, Tennessee and you can follow him on twitter at @Alex_Mayer93.

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