Packers: Pros and cons of drafting Jordan Love in first round
What are the positives and negatives of the Green Bay Packers drafting Jordan Love?
As expected, the Packers‘ decision to draft Utah State quarterback Jordan Love has been met with some criticism from fans.
On the flip side, many others are excited about the prospect of Love eventually being the starting quarterback.
While we won’t know whether this was a home-run pick by Brian Gutekunst or a waste for quite some time, we can look at the positives and negatives immediately following the draft.
Pro: Love has star potential
Love is going to need time to develop. Nobody is doubting that. But the end result could be great for the Packers, which is exactly why they drafted him.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah had Love 23rd in his rankings of this year’s draft class. Jeremiah wrote about Love’s potential:
"“Overall, Love is a raw prospect who will need some time to develop. There is risk with him, but the payoff could be huge.”"
The Packers are banking on his potential. And you couldn’t ask for a better situation. At other teams, he may have been forced into a starting role much sooner. But in Green Bay, he’ll be able to learn from the very best.
Con: Packers missed out on first-round talent at positions of need
The downside of drafting a QB for the future is the talent Green Bay passed up who could help in the short term. It’s still hard to believe Brian Gutekunst didn’t pick a single wide receiver in the entire draft. And it’s not through a lack of opportunities.
Even if they hadn’t traded up to No. 26, there was a chance to land a top-tier receiver. Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. came off the board at the start of Day 2. Both players would’ve upgraded Green Bay’s offense.
Patrick Queen could’ve been a real difference-maker in the middle of Mike Pettine’s defense. If adding a running back was a priority for Gutekunst, D’Andre Swift would’ve been a great option late in the first.
Pro: Packers didn’t have to mortgage future to move up
If Love proves to be the face of the franchise sometime down the line, this will have been a bargain. Green Bay spent its 26th pick, which cost a fourth-rounder. That’s a small price to pay for a starting quarterback.
Had the Packers waited until Aaron Rodgers retired before drafting his replacement, it’s entirely possible they’d have to make a big move up the order to land a top prospect as the Kansas City Chiefs did for Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs gave up a third-rounder and future first to move up. They took the big risk by trading up and it paid off huge.
In 2016, the Los Angeles Rams had to give up their first, two seconds, and a third to move up 14 spots to land Jared Goff.
If Love proves to be the man for Green Bay in a few years, giving up just one fourth-rounder in a trade will have been a bargain.
Con: A huge gamble
If you could guarantee Love would be the third Hall-of-Fame QB in a row for Green Bay, nobody would be complaining. The fact is Gutekunst is rolling the dice. He’s potentially sacrificing adding a prospect who can help the Packers’ push for a Super Bowl in the coming seasons for a quarterback who may never be good enough to start.
As noted, the upside is huge. Love could be a star. But there’s just as much chance he doesn’t come close to that. The Utah State prospect needs a lot of work. Turning raw talent into an NFL-ready starting QB isn’t easy. And certainly no guarantee.
Maybe this will be looked back as a genius move. Maybe it’ll be a huge mistake. Gutekunst has risked rolling a one, hurting the team’s short-term championship hopes, in the hope of rolling a six.