How the Packers can turn Aaron Rodgers into Caleb Williams

After trading Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers enter a new era with Jordan Love. Having gone from Hall-of-Famer to Hall-of-Famer at the most important position in sports, the Packers hope Love can become the team's next superstar quarterback.

However, nobody knows how good Love can be. Maybe he becomes the Packers' new franchise quarterback, but what if not?

The 2023 season gives the Packers an opportunity to evaluate Love and determine whether he is their long-term answer at the quarterback position.

It would be smart, though, to have an insurance policy. Remember, the Packers drafted two quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers' first year as a starter. They didn't know if Rodgers would be the right replacement for Brett Favre.

The Packers could make a move in this year's draft that could help them long-term should Love not play as well as they hope he will.

Why Caleb Williams should be on the Packers' radar

Speaking to reporters this week, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said he "won't hesitate" to make a move at quarterback, and it's a smart approach to take. Until you know you have a franchise quarterback, you should be willing to draft one.

Fast forward one year, and USC's Caleb Williams could be the No. 1 prospect entering the 2024 NFL Draft. He should already be on the Packers' radar. Yes, they hope Love becomes a star, but they have to be prepared in case he struggles this season and they want to pivot at quarterback.

Why Williams? The USC star could be one of the highest-rated quarterbacks to enter the draft in several years.

"Scouts think he's a rare prospect," wrote ESPN's Matt Miller.

And it's easy to see why. Williams' 2022 numbers were unbelievable. He threw for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns with only five interceptions. Oh, and he also rushed for 382 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Williams was the Heisman Trophy winner and AP College Football Player of the Year in 2022.

He could be a special talent.

How the Packers can turn Aaron Rodgers into Caleb Williams

We are diving into a hypothetical world here, but an interesting one nonetheless.

If the Packers are even entertaining the idea of replacing Jordan Love in 2024, it probably means this season didn't go well. They would likely have a pick in the top half of the draft order. Still, that's likely no good if they don't have No. 1 for Williams.

However, the Packers could put themselves in position to trade up by entering next year's draft with three first-rounders.

One could come from the New York Jets. If Aaron Rodgers plays 65 percent of the snaps this season, New York's 2024 first goes to Green Bay.

The other could come from a 2023 draft-day trade. Again, a hypothetical here, but what if the Packers trade down with a team at the bottom of the first round? Let's say, the Kansas City Chiefs or New Orleans Saints.

Those teams have shown a willingness to make a bold trade and give away future firsts in the past. In 2018, the Packers traded down with the Saints in a deal that netted them a 2019 first.

If the Packers could pull off a similar draft-day deal this year, they could potentially enter 2024 with three first-rounders. More than enough resources to make a trade to the top of the draft order for Caleb Williams, the Packers' next superstar quarterback?