Jordan Love has not gotten off to the start that the Green Bay Packers and fans were hoping to see this season. No one should have expected perfection in Love’s first season as the starter, but the frustration has been apparent from the fan base. Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre spoiled the franchise for so many years that it’s easy to forgot how rough the road of a quarterback change can be.
After falling at home to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8 by a final score of 24-10, the panic button has officially been pressed. Fans are calling for Love to be benched, Matt LaFleur to be fired, and the entire team to be blown up. No one can fault the fans for feeling that way, but it’s a bit early.
Now, one Packers’ reporter is already questioning whether the franchise could turn to the 2024 NFL Draft to replace Love.
Matt Schneidman of The Athletic wrote a column on Monday about the Packers’ potential option in the upcoming draft. He suggested that Green Bay could be in a position to select either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. The question was then asked, could the Packers pass up on that opportunity?
“There’s plenty of garbage in this league, the Packers included, but it’s not too far-fetched to think general manager Brian Gutekunst will be in a position to draft one of the consensus top two quarterbacks in the draft: USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye. If Love continues on this “pretty average” trajectory, taking either of those two guys in the top three would be hard to pass up.”
Is It Too Early To Be Panicking About Jordan Love For The Packers?
Honestly, we have to ask the question. Should the panic surrounding Love be a legitimate cause for concern? Or, is it way too early to begin these kinds of questions?
Through the first eight starts of his NFL career as the full-time starter in Green Bay, Love has completed just 57.7 percent of his pass attempts for 1,492 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He has also picked up 164 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Those numbers don’t scream “superstar potential” in any way, shape, or form. However, Love has flashed the ability to make big-time throws under pressure.
Arguably the biggest issue for the Packers so far this season has not been the play of their young quarterback. It has been the lack of playmaking ability from the offense around him. Also, the offensive line has been dismal in most games, to say it lightly.
Jordan Love still has the potential to be a star quarterback in the NFL. If given the time to make plays and given receivers who can catch passes consistently, his numbers would be much different. There is no true way to judge what kind of season he has truly been having.
To answer the question bluntly, yes, it’s way too early to begin talking about replacing Love. The Packers have to figure out how to put their offense completely together first. If the receivers aren’t able to get things turned around, Green Bay will need to add more players in the offseason.
Marvin Harrison Jr. would be more of a dream target for the Packers than any quarterback they can take.
Expect to hear a ton of rumblings and speculation about Love in the coming weeks. The Packers aren’t going to come close to the playoffs. They’re going to be a bad football team the rest of the way. Those factors are going to keep Packers’ fans talking, but it’s too early to begin talking about a new quarterback.