Packers ‘were adamant about trading up’ for Jordan Love in first round

The Green Bay Packers got their guy.

The Packers wanted to draft Jordan Love and they were making sure no other team could jump ahead of them.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Packers “were adamant” about trading up for Love. He added that they had a deal in place to move up with the Seattle Seahawks, which wasn’t needed as they traded even higher to get Love.

Rapoport noted that this was simply about the Packers wanting to ensure they would get their guy and not risk losing him to another team that could move up.

They paid a fourth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins to make the trade. If Love is a bust, this extra pick will be the least of their problems. But if he develops as the team hopes, giving up a fourth-rounder would be a small price to pay to land the future face of the franchise.

I liked Love as a prospect and the idea of him sitting behind Aaron Rodgers for a few years. He needs development and he’ll get it in Green Bay. That said, the disappointment among fans is understandable. It’s a move for the future when the focus should be on the present.

But I’ll add this. Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur got the guy they desperately wanted. That should give us some more confidence. This wasn’t just a matter of the Packers trading up for the only player left with a first-round grade, or taking a prospect they think could be good. Love was their target, and if they were that convinced to go up and get him, they clearly believe in his potential.

We won’t know for a while whether this was a good move or not. But until then, there’s at least the confidence that Gutekunst and LaFleur have a plan.

Love wasn’t Plan B. He was their guy.