Packers’ pick of Jordan Love puts Aaron Rodgers in difficult position

When the Green Bay Packers drafted Jordan Love with the 26th pick, they didn’t just plan for the future, they put the present in a difficult position.

Now Aaron Rodgers will get to know how it feels. In 2005, when he was drafted in the first round, he was immediately seen as the successor to a Hall-of-Fame quarterback who was still on the roster.

Rodgers was not greeted with open arms and was seen as more of a burden by Brett Favre and not as a welcomed teammate. Rodgers had to gain the respect of his predecessor and learn by watching since Favre wasn’t giving much advice.

After that experience, I doubt Rodgers would treat Jordan Love the same way. But, regardless of what Rodgers says publicly, you know this has to dig at him. It wasn’t just that the Packers drafted his replacement, they passed up immediate help and traded up to do so.

After the draft, general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur let it be known Rodgers was their quarterback for as long as he wants to be and Love was drafted with the future in mind.

But, does it really matter what they said. My entire life I’ve been told you can tell a person’s true intent, not by their words but their actions. I’m certain others have heard the same. Gutekunst just said a lot more by his actions and in turn, has put Rodgers in a very difficult position.

First, as previously stated, Gutekunst passed up immediate help while the other teams in his division and conference drafted for positions that could help them in 2020. The Vikings, Saints, 49ers, and Cowboys all did more to help themselves this year than the Packers. Even fringe teams like the Lions and Cardinals seemed to have a higher degree of urgency for the 2020 season than the Packers.

Second, both the GM and coach have let it be known this was “their guy”. That can’t feel good for someone who has been what Rodgers has been through. In 2008, when the team dealt Favre, he was the one who dealt with the worst of the backlash.

Getting a middle finger from a grade school kid, being told he’s not as great as Favre and never will be, the things he had to go through went on and on. Then once he became the man, he had to deal with a general manager who year after year ignored free agency and veteran help and a stockpile of high-round draft picks going to the defense.

And if reports are true that Gutekunst was determined to get Love, that’s got to feel like yet another gut punch in a series of draft-day gut punches to Rodgers.

The thought of that changing when Gutekunst took over went out of the window this year. So far, the best Gutekunst can say he has done is give Rodgers Jimmy Graham, and we all know how that turned out. Yes, he has drafted Elgton Jenkins who looks to be a future Pro Bowl player, but I am focused on weapons for Rodgers.

This is on top of heightened expectations for a team that was one game away from the Super Bowl. The Packers were in a difficult position as it was. No one expected the success the Packers had last year. Even the most optimistic fan couldn’t have predicted the Packers going 13-3. Winning eight one-score games helped the Packers meddle for the 2019 season but will do nothing for 2020.

The team will now play a first-place schedule that now looks harder with Tom Brady moving to the NFC and the Buccaneers. The Packers will once again travel out west to play the 49ers and down to New Orleans for the Saints. These games are in addition to a tough division schedule; 13-3 is not likely.

Should Rodgers struggle in any of these games, how long will it be before fans start calling for Love to start? Or for the media to start asking those questions.

When it’s all said and done we could be looking at another wasted season with a generational quarterback.

Should Rodgers sour anymore on the team or management, the GM could find himself in an even more difficult spot. Rodgers’ contract is too big to trade or to cut him. According to Spotrac, Rodgers’ dead cap hits are $31.5 million for 2021 and $17.2 million for 2022. If they would dare try to trade him this year it would be $51.1 million.

So the benefit that teams get from having a quarterback on a rookie contract would be almost nil since Rodgers’ cap number would still be hanging over the team.

Rodgers has been described as having a “prickly” personality as it is. How long before he tires on answering questions about Love, how he’s mentoring him or if he’s ready to play.

Rodgers is a pro. He’ll say and do the right things. But for how long before that wears thin?

Some around him feel this will motivate him more. The fact that they did bring in his replacement will relight the fire and we could see the best Rodgers we have seen in a while. That could be true.

I for one would have liked to see the team take a different route; give him all the weapons he needs and leave no room for any more excuses.

But, for now at least, all the Packers did was put their future Hall-of-Fame quarterback and team in a difficult position.