One important factor still creates questions about Jordan Love’s future performance
The Green Bay Packers are more than happy with Jordan Love’s development. General manager Brian Gutekunst has said he wants a contract extension done before training camp begins later this week, so the expectation is a deal will get worked out sooner rather than later. But around the NFL, there are still some questions about […]
The Green Bay Packers are more than happy with Jordan Love’s development. General manager Brian Gutekunst has said he wants a contract extension done before training camp begins later this week, so the expectation is a deal will get worked out sooner rather than later. But around the NFL, there are still some questions about Love’s future performance — and that’s mostly because of the small sample size.
Despite being a 2020 draft pick, Jordan Love spent three years behind Aaron Rodgers on the depth chart. He became a full-time starter in 2023, and had ups and downs early on until establishing himself down the stretch, playing at an elite level over the second half of the season.
That small sample size made Love miss the top 10 in ESPN’s rankings built collecting the opinions of NFL executives, evaluators, and coaches. He was an honorable mention, though, exactly because of what he showed last year.
"I think that's real," an AFC executive told ESPN when asked if Love will sustain the level of play. "Arm talent and confidence and a good system around him. He'll turn the ball over some because he's so confident. He'll miss here and there. But you can live with that. Short sample size, so he's got to do it again. But he will."
The idea of Love having to show more — or for a longer period — seems fair. After all, he was only the 25th quarterback in EPA+CPOE composite between weeks 1 and 8, behind players like Daniel Jones, Bryce Young, Justin FIelds, and Derek Carr.
But the analysis is a little strange when you consider that Houston Texans’ quarterback CJ Stroud made the top 10 as the seventh best projected quarterback for 2024. Stroud himself was 16th in EPA+CPOE composite between weeks 1 and 8. And when Love got better, he got much better — third from weeks 9 on, while Stroud was 8th. Obviously, Stroud might be more valuable if you take his contract and age into consideration, but that’s not the exercise the ESPN rankings are premising.
Experience
On the other hand, even if the rankings are a projection eyeing the 2024 season, people around the league are still confident that former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers can still play at a high level. After missing almost the entire 2023 season with an Achilles injury, he appeared on the list as the eighth quarterback, right after Stroud.
"He's probably fringe top 10 at this point, but he still has the rare ability to throw the football," an AFC exec said. "That hasn't gone away. I think he's got a major opportunity to lift the Jets and show what he can still do."
Why it’s smart for the Packers to pay Jordan Love despite scary QB market
Love is about to receive a contract extension
