Jordan Love certainly has some big shoes to fill in Green Bay, as he is replacing future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers under center for the Packers.
Through the first four weeks of 2023, Love has produced mixed results, leading Green Bay to a 2-2 record while throwing for 901 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 56.1 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 88.
Love looked a little shaky in the Packers’ 34-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, which comes on the heels of the team’s thrilling come-from-behind victory over the New Orleans Saints last Sunday in a rally that was propelled by Love.
So, is Love Green Bay’s quarterback of the future?
Here are three reasons why the 24-year-old will be taking snaps for the franchise for the long haul.
Love Has A Cannon For An Arm
Say what you want about Love’s accuracy early on, but the fact of the matter is that Love has a very strong arm.
Yes, it could get him into trouble sometimes, much like Brett Favre would sometimes have too much bravado and think his arm could beat the defense on every play.
But you would much rather have a signal-caller with a cannon than one with a noodle.
The good news is that Love was much more accurate against the Lions than he had been in previous outings, completing 64.7 percent of his throws.
With the right receivers around him, Love’s arm could end up being Green Bay’s biggest weapon. I trust that he will progress as an accurate passer, allowing his arm strength to really shine.
Love Is Athletic
In today’s game, it is almost a must for your quarterback to be athletic, or at least decently mobile.
Just about every elite signal-caller in the NFL can get out of the pocket, move around and make plays with his legs, and while Jordan Love isn’t exactly Lamar Jackson, he at least possesses enough athleticism to keep defenses off balance.
Through the first four games of 2023, Love has carried the ball 16 times for 72 yards and a couple of touchdowns, good for an average of 4.5 yards per rushing attempt. While that isn’t fantastic, it’s good enough.
Not every quarterback is going to be Jackson or Jalen Hurts. However, it is important to be able to evade defenders, step up in the pocket, roll out and make plays on the run. Rodgers did all of those things during his time with the Packers, and Love seems to have the ability to do them, as well.
Love Has Leadership Qualities
For all of the talk about Love’s poor throwing accuracy and inconsistency over the first four weeks, he has one attribute the vast majority have raved about: leadership.
Running back Aaron Jones praised Love’s leadership ability following the club’s comeback win over the Saints, saying how poised the 24-year-old looked.
That is imperative for a quarterback. If he isn’t a leader, he can’t win a Super Bowl. Period.
Love has embraced the starting role right off the bat, showing no signs of being affected by all of the pressure that comes with being the Packers’ quarterback and with replacing Rodgers.
Think about this, too: who was under center for Green Bay before Rodgers? Favre. That means Love is in the shadow of two all-time great quarterbacks, and he doesn’t seem to be bothered whatsoever.
Combine Jordan Love’s talent with his guts and grit, and I see no reason why he won’t be the Packers’ quarterback for a very long time.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
