In the times of quarantine and no sports, I’ve read a lot of mock drafts. More than I have in the past. When a draft analyst mocked the Packers with Jordan Love in the first round, I thought no way. The Packers aren’t going to make a move on a quarterback in the first round. That isn’t going to happen, right? This team was 13-3 last year and has a quarterback with five years left on his deal. Why make the move now versus later on in the draft? It is a complete stunner, to say the least. When Packers traded up, it felt like they would get Patrick Queen from LSU. Instead, it was Jordan Love from Utah State.

First, let me join the chorus and say a quarterback in the first round in this draft was not the right move. Packers likely need to look to the future, but with Aaron Rodgers’s contract, it felt like Green Bay was two years away from pulling that trigger. That is not the case. Rather, the Packers make the move to draft Love. Let’s try to figure out how we got here.

Green Bay did not have the options I believe they thought would be there at 30. The draft started to thin out quickly with the positions that Green Bay was interested in. If Packers drafted a wide receiver, it would have been a reach. A middle linebacker may have made sense, but there are some issues with Queen’s experience. He could be another Oren Burks. The most reasonable hole to fill at that time was the cornerback position. Green Bay did not see it that way and went for the quarterback.

If the Packers went 9-7 last year, missed the playoffs for the third straight year, I think Love makes more sense. But the fact this team was one win away from a Super Bowl leaves people with an awful taste in their mouth. Add to the fact that Minnesota, San Francisco, Dallas, and Philadelphia all took a step forward on Thursday night while Green Bay drafted a developmental quarterback that makes you scratch your head.

From what the scouts detail in their notes, Love has a chance to be special in the NFL. Dane Brugler of The Athletic calls him a ‘high risk, high reward’ player. Love will have all the time in the world to learn under Rodgers. Part of me wonders why the Packers couldn’t wait for Jake Fromm, Jacob Eason, or Jalen Hurts, but maybe, the reality was they were never interested in any of those guys. Remember, they scouted Love against LSU. There is a fascination there from general manager Brian Gutekunst. Since he couldn’t get better at MLB or WR, they filled a need with drafting the quarterback of the future.

This is my least favorite draft pick since Justin Harrell. I cannot wrap my head around it. Maybe, I need to come to terms with it and after a day or two, things will be better. Other sports better come back soon, or the storylines around Love and Rodgers will be overblown by July.

Charlie.