The Green Bay Packers were significantly criticized after their first-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. By selecting Jordan Love, the Packers signaled that their focus was on the future at the quarterback position, rather than making moves to win now.
While Green Bay is doing well this season, their loss to divisional foe Minnesota over the weekend makes this draft pick seem like a big mistake.
Going into the NFL Draft, most experts would have said that the Packers’ needs were wide receiver, offensive and defensive line help, and defensive upgrades. One of the last positions of need was quarterback.
The Packers missed out on some rookies who are showing a lot of promise and could have helped the team make a push in the postseason.
In the first round, the Packers could have selected any running back they wanted and started the run on running backs. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, D’Andre Swift, and Jonathan Taylor were all available for Green Bay to select and provide added depth and strength to the running back unit.
On the defensive side of the ball, Antoine Winfield Jr. (S) and Jaylon Johnson (CB) have been impressive for their respective teams through this point in the season. They both could have helped strengthen a secondary that will likely need to go through the Seattle Seahawks or Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl.
Having additional players who could step in and help now while also preparing the team for success in the future would have been looked at as a great move.
Maybe the place that stings the most is not selecting Tee Higgins. Higgins is having an incredible year for the Cincinnati Bengals and is quickly gaining chemistry with rookie quarterback Joe Burrow.
Imagine the kind of success he could be having with one of one of the best quarterbacks in the game. That kind of success could have continued for the next several years and given the Packers a great top wide receiver for Rodgers to throw the ball to.
All of this is fun to imagine, but the reality is that the Packers chose to upset their fanbase and star player by selecting his replacement. When the team is so close to winning another Super Bowl, everything needs to be done to close that gap.
By not making the decision to win now, the Packers made a massive mistake. Jordan Love could prove us all wrong in the future, but right now that is the fact of the matter.
