Could the Packers really trade Jordan Love before deadline?

Could the Packers really trade Jordan Love?

In a recent article by ESPN, reporters picked players from each team who could potentially be traded before next month’s deadline. Perhaps surprisingly, Rob Demovsky’s pick for the Green Bay Packers was second-year quarterback Jordan Love.

Now, it’s worth noting Demovsky did add that it’s “not likely that the Packers would do this trade”, which is understandable after they moved up to get him in the first round only a year ago.

Could it really happen, and what would it mean for Aaron Rodgers’ future?

Making a case for Packers trading Jordan Love

Demovsky makes some interesting points in the article.

If Green Bay did trade Love, he wrote the move “might prompt Rodgers to sign a contract extension”. He adds that this could help the team’s salary-cap mess next year, while also giving Rodgers the chance to play his entire career in Green Bay.

Let’s not forget that the Packers drafted Love after the 2019 season. That year, Rodgers had thrown for a solid if not spectacular 4,002 yards, 24 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Good numbers for any QB, but below Rodgers’ MVP heights.

Little did they know that in the 22 regular-season games since drafting Love, Rodgers would throw 60 touchdown passes with just eight interceptions, be named 2020 NFL MVP, and the Packers would be 18-4 in those games.

Maybe the team decides they want Rodgers to finish his career here and go all-in like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then, and only then, trading Love would make sense.

Could a Jordan Love trade really happen?

Almost certainly not. It would be a huge shock if the Packers did a 180-turn and gave up on their first-round pick.

The Packers didn’t just draft Jordan Love. They traded up to get him. They clearly believe in his potential.

Love’s first preseason was solid. He showed some real promise, although he was inconsistent and looked far from ready. No real surprises there.

They’ve already made a commitment for the future. It’s a long-term one.

It would also be a brave call. There’s no guarantee the Packers will be as strong next year given their salary-cap situation. Even if Rodgers extended his deal to ease his 2022 cap number, Green Bay would still have tough decisions to make with free agents Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Robert Tonyan, while also having to manage big salary-cap hits like Za’Darius Smith’s.

Keeping this team together will be no easy task.

And what if Love does go on to become an excellent starter? The Packers must have believed he could because they traded up in the first round to get him. Watching him succeed elsewhere would be painful for the Packers after giving up on him to chase short-term success.

We can discuss for hours whether the team should entertain offers for Love before the deadline in November, but as Demovsky notes, it’s simply not likely.

I’d go one step further than that — it ain’t happening.