The Green Bay Packers, amazed that quarterback Jordan Love was still available late into the first round of Thursday night’s draft, weren’t going to let any other team move up and steal him away.
According to Peter King of NBC Sports, the Packers had “significant intel” that a team picking early in the second round – King guesses the Indianapolis Colts – were attempting to trade up into the first round and get Love. The Packers blocked the attempt, executing a trade with the Miami Dolphins for the 26th pick, where they happily took Love.
In a conference call with reporters, Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he couldn’t believe Love was still available.
“It’s one of those rare opportunities where we never thought we’d be in a situation like we were,” LaFleur said.
According to King, the Packers thought Love would be gone well before the mid-20s in the first round. So as Love kept falling, the more and more he became a primary target.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the Packers were “adamant” about trading up for Love and were unwilling to wait for him to fall to No. 30. He also reported no other team was going to move up and get him before the Packers’ pick, so it’s possible Gutekunst was deceived.
When a run of receivers happened early in the 20s, the Packers had seen enough and moved up to make sure they got the quarterback.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider said the Packers were working a trade with Seattle for the 27th pick when the deal fell apart and the Packers found a better offer with Miami.
The completed deal, at least in terms of value, was a good one for the Packers. Moving up four spots in the first round cost them only a fourth-round pick. According to the traditional trade value chart, the Packers won that deal. They’ll have won the entire draft if Love turns out to be as good as the Packers think he is.
The Packers view Love as a natural thrower of the football, with athleticism, toughness and poise, all the traits of a future franchise quarterback. He’ll now get a chance to sit behind Aaron Rodgers, work closely with coach Matt LaFleur and develop as a player within a stable environment and without the pressure of playing immediately. Gutekunst and LaFleur think it’s the perfect situation.
Time will tell if the Packers made a huge, franchise-altering mistake or secured another decade of stability at the game’s most important position. They certainly made the decision to draft Love with conviction.
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