In a surprising move Thursday on the first night of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers traded up to select Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick.
The pick didn’t address any of the team’s needs, though the Packers could still figure that out in the later rounds. And while they’re clearly looking to the future, drafting Love doesn’t help the team contend right now, which is why For The Win’s Steven Ruiz gave this pick a D- grade.
Yes, Aaron Rodgers is 36 years old, and his career is winding down. But he bounced back in 2019 from some previous struggles with the help of coach Matt LaFleur. And, as Rodgers said in March: “No matter who you bring in, they’re not going to be able to beat me out anytime soon.” That is certainly true, as Love needs some time to develop.
But Stephen A. Smith argued Friday that Rodgers should be “insulted” with the Packers’ decision to draft a quarterback in the first round when they haven’t selected any offensive players in the opening round in years. The ESPN personality ranted for about two-and-a-half minutes Friday, passionately explaining how he feels Rodgers should feel right about now.
Speaking to ESPN reporter Adam Schefter and First Take stars Molly Qerim and Max Kellerman, Stephen A. said:
“He should feel disgusted. He should feel insulted. And as far as I’m concerned, if I was Aaron Rodgers, I’d ask to be traded. To hell with all of them. Kick rocks. Have a nice life. I’ll move on without you. That’s how I feel Aaron Rodgers should feel at this particular moment in time.
“Let me be very, very clear about where I stand. This is no knock against Jordan Love; I want to make sure I’m clear about that, Adam. It’s no mark against Jordan Love, whatsoever. He may have the potential. Matt LaFleur may have every right to feel as exuberant about him as he may feel. But there comes a point in time where you gotta listen and really dissect the words of certain people. Like [Brian] Gutekunst, the GM. He goes out there and he says last night, what does he say? ‘Uh, Aaron Rodgers is a professional. He understands what this is about. This is about now.’ Well, it’s not about now. It’s about two years from now, it could be able three or four years from now. But certainly, it’s not about now, feeding off an NFC championship game appearance, which you just had.
“So let’s dissect this situation for a second here. Aaron Rodgers was drafted in 2005. Do you know that the Green Bay Packers have never drafted another offensive player in the first round since? No wide receiver, no running back, no tight end, nothing! He’s been your starting quarterback since 2008. He delivered a Super Bowl championship for you in 2010. He carried this franchise on his shoulders for a damn decade! You never got him any elite players in the first round! You’re always going the defensive route each and every single year!
“You drafted a quarterback back in 2005 in Aaron Rodgers. The next time you drafted an offensive player was last night in the first round. You might do things in the second and third round and all that stuff, and we get that. But there’s something to be said about your best player, your star, who had a down year and the definition of a down year was 4,000 yards passing with just four interceptions. Oh by the way! Since 2010, the man hasn’t thrown double-digits in the interceptions category, and this is how you treat him!
“In the end, it’s not about Aaron Rodgers. That’s what the Green Bay Packers are saying. It’s not about using his greatness, buffering that so we can go and win the ‘ship. It’s about thinking about life when he’s gone even though he’s still here! When you’re the best, and you’re the franchise, and you’re the guy carrying everything, you should be thought about! Your feelings, what you believe, what buffers and supports and augments you should be a priority! And if it’s not a priority, you should tell them to kiss you where the sun doesn’t shine! Get me the hell up out of here! Give it to Jordan Love! And let’s find a different location for me! That’s what I think Aaron Rodgers should be saying today!”
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