In the midst of a four-game losing streak, the Packers’ struggles have led to renewed questions about Jordan Love‘s status as the team’s projected long-term starting quarterback. Head coach Matt LaFleur endorsed the former first-rounder last week, but general manager Brian Gutekunst has since struck a different tone. 
Love got off to an encouraging start in 2023, his first season at the helm and thus the beginning of his audition period as Aaron Rodgers‘ successor. The 25-year-old has taken a step back statistically in recent weeks, however, throwing at least one interception in each of the past five games (and eight total during that span). Love sits last in the NFL in completion percentage (57.7%), a sign of his growing pains but also those of Green Bay’s offense as a whole.
“I think he’s done a lot of really good things,” Gutekunst said of Love, via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “Really like the way he’s responded to the adversity, how he’s led the team. Again, we’ve got to be better as a unit, and I expect that to happen over the next 10 games. And I think that we’re going through some things that we knew we would go through. We haven’t had the results that we want, but I do like the way guys are responding to things.”
Gutekunst added that the final 10 games of the Packers’ season will be “very important” as it pertains to the organization’s evaluation of Love. The Utah State product signed an extension which took the place of his fifth-year option this offseason, a pact which has him on the books through 2024. Improvement will be needed to quell doubts on the team’s part that another option under center should be sought out, although it comes as little surprise that Green Bay’s highly inexperienced offense has encountered issues in the first half of the campaign.
“When the group as a whole is not functioning the way it should function, then it’s hard to evaluate anybody,” Gutekunst added. “At the same time, it’s on us to get that right so we can move forward and evaluate the guys we have in that room. But yeah, when we’re not clicking, it’s tough to evaluate anything.”
Plenty of attention will be on Love in particular to close out the season as the 2-5 Packers aim for signs of growth over the second half of the campaign. Green Bay elected not to add a veteran presence at this week’s trade deadline, with the team’s only move being the one which sent corner Rasul Douglas to the Bills. While Gutekunst expressed confidence the Packers’ young offense nucleus will take a step forward, his remarks make it clear progress will be necessary in the near future on Love’s part for the organization to feel comfortable about a long-term commitment.
Love has been mediocre, rather than outright terrible, but a lot of that is certainly the fault of the general manager. Gutekunst was eager to ignore Rodgers’ dramatic complaints about the offensive roster, but the end result is that his handpicked successor has nobody of note to throw to and not much to help block for him. Love actually has a few noticeably positive traits-he is calm under pressure, doesn’t look to scramble at every given snap, and executes certain plays with precision. He works hard, and you can tell that he studied Rodgers’ mechanics and tendencies very well in how he throws and moves. Those are the positives, and there are certainly many negatives. My point is that the failures are not primarily Love’s doing. They shouldn’t have expected him to be good enough to carry that offense.
As promising as some of his traits are, Love is not experienced or talented enough to be the engine of that team. In my opinion, his issue is that he doing more than is able to do effectively right now, and shouldn’t have this much responsibility. He may grow, he may not, but Gutekunst could have had both a good succession plan and possibly a couple of rings if he had just overcome his own stubbornness and added a few starting offensive weapons to the Packers in the last few offseasons.
I realize it’s bizarre to have a Bears fan defending the Packers but I don’t think their succession plan is bad. The Patriots had no plan to replace Brady and it certainly looks like the Vikings never considered Cousins might need an heir. According to Spotrac, Green Bay has the youngest roster in the league at 25.19 years of age. It’s going to take this team a while to get on the same page and develop continuity but they’ve put the Rodgers era in the rear view mirror and that was the important first step.
I respectfully disagree. A good succession plan would have had offensive leaders to rely on and help the young quarterback grow. At the very least, it would have a good offensive line. But what have the Packers done? They’ve taken their usual slow, not in any hurry approach, but haven’t acquired much talent to show for it. The entire roster is nothing but depth, and in the course of moving on from Rodgers, they wasted his last competitive years with the franchise. They were obsessed with moving on, but they didn’t even get any pieces to help Love develop.
If they were going to trade up for a quarterback, they probably should done so for a more pro ready prospect, as well. I don’t blame Love for the Packers’ failures, but I also wouldn’t say that he was worth wasting another potential Super Bowl with Rodgers for. I don’t hate any team myself, but I also do not like to see bad football. It boggles my mind the decisions made in Green Bay, and the stubborn refusal to acquire good talent or use what was there.
I would think a staff of about 15 offensive assistant coaches would be enough to help a young QB grow but I could be wrong. If you don’t favor the slow, not in any hurry approach, then we can safely assume you’re not a fan of the Lions. They’ve been a work in progress since 1955 when they last won a meaningful game.
Slow is good, but you have to know your circumstances. Two straight trips to a conference championship game, with obvious holes on a roster, dictate that you should probably try to plug those holes instead of picking depth players at other positions.
Even if you insist on sacrificing the present for the future, you should probably still address those positions if leaving open will the next guy to take over. The Packers didn’t do either approach the right way. I can’t see why, other than Gutekunst’s stubborn rejection of the reality of his roster. Yes, Gute, Rodgers was being a diva. But he was right. Even after he’s gone, a stud receiver or a offensive lineman would have still helped the quarterback that you insisted on trading up for.
Season is a bust anyway so at this point I have no issue finishing with Love
Either he is or next QB and needs more time to develop.
He’s a massive bust and we tank anyway for a draft pick.
Of course as long as Gutekunst has a job it doesn’t matter where we draft, he will screw it up and pick another bust. I can’t have much faith until he is no longer our GM.
Yes, along with not bringing in a veteran QB to back up Love and help him this season would have been nice, let alone a wise move.
Your top paragraph sounds exactly why Tom opted out of his NE contract. Bill had a mediocre roster and it made Tom mad. Tampa’s was stacked. Everyone knows that. It’s not even argued the glaring differences between TB & NE roster’s at the time.
I get it, your QB isn’t your GM, but listening to a HoF QB in their prime should be food for thought. GM’s with bigger egos is all that is. ‘I’m better at it than you are Tom/Aaron!’.
I agree. I’ll give Belichick slightly more credit for trying (not much, but a little), even though Harry ended up being a bad bust. I don’t think Belichick ever wanted him, and he was trying to throw a Brady a bone, but that obviously was a bad pick.
Bill hasn’t had an average 1st round pick since 2012. None have been signed to a 2nd contract. His 2019 draft class is completely off their roster and the 2020 class doesn’t have anyone re-signed either. Tons of chatter many could have been traded yesterday.
Tom masked Bill’s awful GM’ing skills for a very long time. Same for Aaron in GB. That’s what we’re seeing this year. How many 1st round picks does GB have in their D 4-5(?) and it’s an average D this season.
link to en.wikipedia.org
Agree, Bill should have been relieved of GM duties years ago, but his ego is too big to understand his own ineptitude.
Lose
The rest for a chance at another qb
Be interesting to see how it plays out when they tell Caleb he can have all the stock he wants to be part owner of the team!
Caleb can’t beat top 25 teams. He’s a college QB only. But some dumb team will draft him way too high/
Or at least a dumb GM. Hey! GB has 1 of those…
After 20+ years of having a Hall of Fame QB it is hard to adjust to a guy who is simply adequate at the job. Not to mention it tends to highlight the lack of talent in all other offensive positions.
He’s working with 1st and 2nd year receivers including TE. He’s without his LT Bahkitiari his RB’s are either injured or inconsistent the GM failed to get him a veteran WR. This is very much the GM fault rather than the QB. Plus the defense is failing this year. Pass judgment on Love till after the season
They haven’t brought in a #1 receiver for either of the 2 previous HOF Qb’s. Ok for all the Rodgers haters he isn’t a HOF Qb yet but will be. They have never been too interested in helping the offensive side of the ball because they had 2 Qb’s covering for the front office and head coaches inadequate leadership. But once Rodgers left it’s showing up now. Oh by the way yes I am a true Packer fan for over 65 years probably more than any other here but I am a realist and tell the truth.
Just saying… Rodgers hasn’t thrown an interception yet!
It’s been a team effort being this bad and it’s been horrible timing with mistakes. Jordan love makes a good play results on a drop or penalty and then he makes mistakes when people are wide open. Some of that is wrong routes and stuff the accuracy issues stand out.
When your GM’s statement that the best his QB has done is…. “Really like the way he’s responded to the adversity, how he’s led the team….to 4 straight losses is the best thing he can say…..and to add…..”The 25-year-old has taken a step back statistically in recent weeks, however, throwing at least one interception in each of the past five games (and eight total during that span). Love sits last in the NFL in completion percentage (57.7%)”,……you’re in real trouble at the position…….
Lucky they have a stacked roster around him, so when they move on the next guy can’t possibly fail…
Long term, I think Love will be fine. But GB needs to invest in veteran WRs in the off season either in free agency or trade.
Mike Evans should be top target
Bringing in another veteran like Tyler Boyd, Josh Reynolds, Gabriel Davis makes sense too.
Adding a 3rd guy like Kj Osborn, Braxton Berrios, Kendrick Bourne, Van Jefferson wouldnt hurt too.
TE wise I think you look at Dalton Schultz or Mike Gesicki
Draft wise gotta fix the oline possibly find a LT long term.
Literally the same conversation every year with them, down to the same positions.
Maybe this year will finally light a fire under them to actually try and improve.
What will probably happen (assuming gutenfruit and LeFlour are still in charge)…
No vet wr will be brought in-why change now? Plus, it’s clear Watson is already a game breaker (the 4-5 games hes healthy), and they simply won’t consider breaking up all that young talent they’ve stockpiled. All rookies or 2nd year guys don’tcha know.
Slot guy is actually the 1 spot I think I’d leave alone. Reed has impressed me and I think he’ll get better. Yeah, he’s dropped a couple. We were ready to launch Adams into outer space his second year when he couldn’t catch a cold.
Gutey won’t sign a decent te either. Just look at the excellent run of drafted guys he’s picked there! He’ll snag another one in the 2nd round, with a late 4th round grade..who missed 3/4 of gis final year and won’t be finished with rehab until middle of next season. Or, move Preston Smith to TE. He’s a freak athlete and will play te and CB.
Draftwise..we all know he’s picking defense, odds are CB but can’t rule out safety. He’ll grab a center in round 7, who has never played tackle, and insist on moving him to LT day one. Unless he can talk Tony Mandarich out of retirement.
Your amusing but sort of serious take aside (it made me laugh, thanks for that), I do want to build on one thing you mentioned, which was Reed. He and Love seem to have a much better connection than, say, Love and Doubs. It seems like whenever Live has been in trouble in the last two games, he looks for Reed. It’s not always successful, but it appears that Reed is becoming Love’s most trusted target right now.
The weird thing is in the preseason I was convinced he would be forcing the ball to Doubs whenever he got in trouble. Now it’s Reed. I’m not concerned..yet, by it. Until he has the opportunity to fail due to his own shortcomings, I’m trying to remain cautiously optimistic.
Lifetime Packer fan. Love is not the answer. Not because I’m spoiled by 3 decades, not because I’m impatient, not because I’m irritated by the lame partial rebuilds by the Brewers and Packers. But because I watch a lot of football. Doesn’t make me a expert but you know when a QB is not going to make it in the NFL. It’s kinda right there in your face.