After dropping yet another “get right” game against the abysmal Detroit Lions, Packer fans find themselves in a place that is not too familiar. The Green Bay Packers are sitting with a 3-6 record, no more Rashan Gary for the year, and multiple other starters for a few more games. If there is one thing that is glaringly obvious, it is that this is not their year. What year it is, is the year to see what they have in Jordan Love.
While not being statistically eliminated from the playoffs, the Packers would most likely have to go 7-1 the rest of the year to have a good shot to make it to the postseason. This is with teams ahead like the undefeated Eagles, a very strong Dallas Cowboys, and once again the single loss Vikings. Is it impossible? No. Is it likely without our top edge rusher, completely lost offense and streaky defense? Absolutely not.
What is more likely is that the Packers could end up with a much higher pick than anticipated. Depending on how these last 8 games go, the Packers are most definitely looking at their highest pick since nabbing Rashan Gary with the 12th spot in the 2019 draft, and possibly even higher than that. And this class is loaded at QB.
Now it is unlikely the Packers will be high enough to get CJ Stroud or Bryce Young. We currently sit at the 9th spot with QB needy Houston, Carolina, and Detroit ahead of us and Indianapolis not far behind (and not likely to win many more games). So unless things go completely downhill or the Packers pull off a monster trade, it’ll be the second tier QBs the Packers will have a look at such as Will Levis (Kentucky) or Tanner McKee (Stanford).
So the question that NEEDS to be answered before this happens, is if Jordan Love is our guy to build around or not.
Anyone who has watched him has seen him make huge strides over the past three years, but we are yet to see him play extended meaningful football. While the stats didn’t jump off the charts this preseason, it was obvious to the eyeball test that he was playing with better rhythm, confidence, and poise. Even with rookie and backup WRs, he was making plays that made it clear he has the potential to make some great plays. But having potential doesn’t necessarily mean he will.
This draft isn’t just strong in QBs, it is strong everywhere. The Packers could be in position to grab the top WR, OL, or TE on their board to build around Love. They could go into the next 3 years with a receiving core of Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Samori Toure, and a top 10 pick at WR or TE. Or they could continue to upgrade their offensive line and keep Love clean.
What Green Bay CANNOT afford to do is go into this draft without a good idea if Love can play real football. If he can’t play and they think they can, we will be the living the life of Bears fans for the past 20 years. If he can play and we think he can’t, we may draft a QB we don’t need and have a QB battle when we should have built around Love.
There is an easy answer to all of this. Love needs to play.
We have great draft capital this year and will most likely have the draft position. We need to know whether to pick up Love’s 5th year option. There is no other way to make an educated decision than to give him some real playing time this year.
I love Aaron Rodgers. I appreciate the once in a lifetime opportunity to watch him play for Green Bay for the past 18 years. This is not a shot at him. It is simply a logical look to the future and taking advantage of the unlikely opportunity to avoid QB hell for the years to come.
Then, maybe in a few years, we’ll win.
PJ is an Ohio native who was fortunate enough to be born into the green and gold family through his father who grew up in Green Bay. He now resides in NYC where he is an avid fan and fantasy football player. You can follow him on twitter at @PJsPack_.
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