There are some pretty big expectations being placed on Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers heading into the 2023 season. He is not only taking over a starting job for the first time in his career, but he also has to replace a legend in future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers.
As if filling those shoes wasn’t enough pressure, the Packers also signed him to an extension this offseason. Earning an extension after starting one game in three seasons and coming in as relief in nine others puts even more on Jordan Love’s plate.
Alas, this is something he has been preparing for. He got to sit and learn behind one of the best to ever do it and does have a lot of practice reps under his belt. There was something that led the Packers to trading up and selecting him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft and now is his time to showcase that.
What can we expect to see from Jordan Love this season? It is truly a mystery as he doesn’t have many extended appearances to his name yet. But, some predictions believe he is going to have a so-so 2023 campaign.
Over at ESPN, they have already begun putting together some projections for Fantasy Football. According to their predictions, Jordan Love is going to be waiver-wire fodder throughout the season, with a few boom weeks possible based on matchups. Even in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, he may not crack a starting lineup as the No. 27 projected quarterback.
Jordan Love is projected to complete 63.2 percent of his passes, going 314-of-497 for 3,508 yards. He will throw 20 touchdowns but struggle at times with turnovers, throwing 14 interceptions. On the ground, he will gain 171 yards and add two more scores.
“After three seasons sitting and learning behind Aaron Rodgers, Love is finally atop the QB depth chart in Green Bay. The 26th pick of the 2020 draft, Love has attempted only 83 passes in his career, 34 of which came in his lone start (Week 9 in 2021). In fact, we haven’t seen him play at a high level since his breakout season at Utah State in 2018. He struggled in his final collegiate campaign (2019), tossing 20 TDs and 17 INTs, and his off-target rate (15.5%) and QBR (51.7) were both worst in the 2020 rookie class. Love is obviously a major unknown and while that comes with some inherent upside, his supporting cast is young and may not be much better than the one Rodgers struggled with in 2022. Love is late-round flier material in deep leagues.”
Without much of a sample size to work with, making projections for Love isn’t very easy. While the numbers ESPN has provided aren’t great, there is certainly some upside in his game. Part of the reason his projections are so low could be because his supporting cast is nearly as inexperienced as he is.
Green Bay’s most experienced pass catchers heading into 2023 could be second-year wide receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. Behind them on the depth chart is 2023 second-round pick Jayden Reed. At tight end, second-round pick Luke Musgrave could be the starter with third-round pick Tucker Kraft as his backup.
That group certainly has some upside, but it will take time for everyone to develop and build chemistry. The Packers could lean on the running game early and often in the season, but given the young players with potential surrounding him, Jordan Love could take off in the second half of the season.
