After Rodgers’ New Contract, What’s Next For Packers QB Jordan Love?

SALT LAKE CITY – Back-to-back NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers agreed to a new four-year contract with the Green Bay Packers. What does the move mean for Rodgers’ backup, former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love?

The Packers selected Love with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

After two seasons in Green Bay, will Love remain with the Packers long-term, or is the former USU signal-caller’s future with another franchise?

Social Media Reactions

After news broke on Rodgers’ record-breaking deal to remain in Green Bay, NFL analysts, experts, and others posted their thoughts on Love’s future.

What could this mean for Jordan Love's career?#LocalsInTheNFL https://t.co/FWdRgHYVzJ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 8, 2022

So what happens to Jordan Love now?#LocalsInTheNFL @kslsports

— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) March 8, 2022

I wonder what the Packers could get if they traded Jordan Love.

— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) March 8, 2022

And now Jordan Love's reality in Green Bay shapes up a lot like Jimmy Garoppolo's did in New England—the all-timer in front of him is simply going to run the clock out on the chance he has to start for the team that drafted him.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 8, 2022

The Packers should try to trade Jordan Love before the NFL Draft:

* Stock will only go down the less he plays

* Weak QB class means he has more value than post-draft

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) March 8, 2022

Also wonder if the Broncos go after Jordan Love now.

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) March 8, 2022

So someone explain to me again why the Packers moved up to draft Jordan Love behind Aaron Rodgers' back? Talk about self-inflicted wounds. All this drama, and additional money spent, over that decision.

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 8, 2022

So where Jordan Love going?

— Marcus Spears (@mspears96) March 8, 2022

There will be a lot of talk about how Jordan Love was a wasted draft pick.

The Packers drafted a QB late in the 1st round when their current QB1 was age 37, as any team should.

The QB1 still being a league MVP heading toward age 39 is INCREDIBLE. GB did everything right here.

— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 8, 2022

First: I was wrong.
Aaron fell in our lap 17 years ago; Packers affirmatively traded up to get Jordan Love two years ago. I thought the transition would be two years to Jordan, not three years as we did with Aaron.
Perhaps this says more about Jordan than Aaron.
More to come…

— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) March 8, 2022

I would not jump to conclusions about Jordan Love.
Aaron's contract may not have true guarantees past this year and even if it does, those can be traded.
This very well may be more Deja Vu than I even thought; that they move to Jordan after 3 years, just as we did with Aaron.

— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) March 8, 2022

Aaron Rodgers getting a new deal all but guarantees(barring injury) that Jordan Love may never play for the team that moved up to get him in the 2020 draft, making the pick even more curious

— trey wingo (@wingoz) March 8, 2022

The Packers signing Aaron Rodgers to an extension is a clear indication they didn’t expect him to play this good for this long when they drafted Jordan Love 2 years ago. Now they need to trade Jordan Love.

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 8, 2022

With Aaron Rodgers back, it seems worthwhile for Green Bay to explore trading away Jordan Love.

An acquiring team would be on the hook for just $4.033M in salary over the next two years. A bargain for a player at that position if you think he has upside/the tools to work with.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 8, 2022

Just hit up a few NFL scouts about potential asking price for Jordan Love. Most think Packers could get a 2nd round pick for him. Feeling is talent & upside worth that roll of dice.

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 8, 2022

Packers’ thoughts on Jordan Love?

On Monday, March 7, NBC Sports’ Rich Eisen talked about how Rodgers’ future was discussed at the NFL Scouting Combine during the first week of March.

Eisen said the feeling around the league was that Rodgers would return to Green Bay because “the Packers have no other choice.”

The NFL expert added that the Packers haven’t been impressed with Love.

“They saw him (Love) play against the Kansas City Chiefs and they saw and deep down they already know Jordan Love ain’t the guy — after one start,” Eisen said.

The Packers are all-in on convincing @AaronRodgers12 to come back this season because, as @richeisen heard in Indy, Jordan Love hasn't impressed #GoPackGo brass enough:#NFL #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/NPnU70KT5J

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) March 7, 2022

On November 7, 2021, Love started for the first time after Rodgers’ missed the Packers’ game against the Chiefs following a positive COVID-19 test.

Green Bay struggled to score and suffered a 13-7 loss on the road.

Love finished the game 19/34 passing for 190 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also had five carries for 23 yards.

💛 Jordan Love finds Allen Lazard for first career touchdown pass. 🦎#LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #GBvsKC #GoPackGo #AggiesAllTheWay @kslsportspic.twitter.com/UFmdxTA2hP

— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) November 8, 2021

Love’s performance drew questions from NFL analysts throughout the following week. Rodgers’ returned for Green Bay’s next game and went on to win his second straight MVP award following the season.

After not playing in 2020, Love wrapped up his second NFL season with 411 passing yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. He had a 58.1 completion rate in six games played.

Trade Market

Despite his limited time on the field at the pro level, has Love shown enough to create a robust trade market this season?

Rodgers was the first domino to fall in the quarterback carousel this offseason. The other big-name QB whose future is yet to be decided is Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

Aside from those two future hall of famers, the quarterback market lacks known commodities.

Here are the teams that currently need to upgrade at quarterback or could potentially add a new signal-caller for the 2022 season:

• Pittsburgh Steelers (2021 starter: Ben Roethlisberger – retired)
• Cleveland Browns (2021 starter: Baker Mayfield)
• Indianapolis Colts (2021 starter: Carson Wentz)
• Houston Texans (2021 starter: Davis Mills)
• Denver Broncos (2021 starter: Teddy Bridgewater)
• Washington Commanders (2021 starter: Taylor Heinicke)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2021 starter: Tom Brady – retired)
• New Orleans Saints (2021 starter: Jameis Winston/Taysom Hill)
• Atlanta Falcons (2021 starter: Matt Ryan)
• Carolina Panthers (2021 starter: Sam Darnold/Cam Newton)

If the Packers were to trade Love, I would expect the move to take place before or during the 2022 NFL Draft. The draft is slated to take place from April 28-30.

The NFL trade market is expected to ramp up ahead of free agency, which begins on March 16.

More Social Media Reactions

poor jordan love 😂

— Danny Kelly (@DannyBKelly) March 8, 2022

Future Denver Broncos quarterback Jordan Love

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) March 8, 2022

They drafted Jordan Love just to pay Aaron Rodgers $153M guaranteed lol

— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) March 8, 2022

Jordan Love ain’t feeling the love right now

— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) March 8, 2022

Jimmy Garoppolo with the Patriots
Jordan Love with the Packers pic.twitter.com/iUPaMM2tP2

— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) March 8, 2022

Jordan Love on the block? How far has his stock fallen?

— Jim Ayello (@jimayello) March 8, 2022

Jordan Love: pic.twitter.com/NFvdRfvi7Y

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) March 8, 2022

When it’s time to call back teams trying to trade for Aaron Rodgers and offer them Jordan Love. pic.twitter.com/8jeC5ZBe7f

— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) March 8, 2022

So maybe Denver trades for a different Packers QB… Jordan Love?

Obviously that coaching staff is familiar.

— Joe Marino (@TheJoeMarino) March 8, 2022

Jordan Love be like… pic.twitter.com/60tfiCggwA

— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) March 8, 2022

Reminder: Packers traded up to select Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Through two seasons, Love has 36 completions and 411 YDS for Green Bay. pic.twitter.com/o1rXUfvmei

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) March 8, 2022

The Packers drafted Jordan Love and then immediately got back-to-back MVP production out of the QB position, I don’t see the problem

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) March 8, 2022

Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).

Follow @kyleireland