GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – 15 years to the day the Green Bay Packers drafted the successor to Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre by selecting Aaron Rodgers, General Manager Brian Gutekunst picked the heir apparent for Rodgers by drafting Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the NFL’s first ever virtual draft.
Gutekunst traded up four spots with the Miami Dolphins to move into the 26th position in the draft’s first round, giving Miami Green Bay’s original pick at number 30 along with a fourth round choice to take Love, a two year starter in college.
The 6-4, 224 pound Love threw for 8600 yards and 60 touchdowns in his college career, along with 29 interceptions. Regarded as an extremely athletic player with big play ability, the selection still came as a jolt considering Rodgers, 36, still has four years remaining on a 176 million dollar contract extension signed two years ago.
Favre was 35 when Rodgers was taken by then GM Ted Thompson in 2005 and waited three seasons before getting the starting job after Favre first retired, came back and was dealt to the New York Jets.
Most observers thought the Packers would look elsewhere to bolster it’s roster after coming one game away from the Super Bowl last season but in a pre-draft visit with the media last week, Gutekunst was asked about the possibility of taking a quarterback with a Super Bowl champion and two time league MVP already entrenched.
Gutekunst said, “If you think a guy has an opportunity to play in this league, and play at a high level, you have to consider it really no matter where your team is at, because it’s just too hard to win without one.”
Speaking with ABC after the selection, Love said, “I didn’t know what to expect coming in to this, I’m super excited, I had some good talks with the coaching staff in Green Bay so I’m excited.”
As for learning from Rogers, Love said, “Oh man, I already know I can learn a lot from Aaron Rodgers, he’s one of the GOATS in the game and I’m excited to come back behind him and just learn as much as I can.”
