Aaron Rodgers almost certainly would have preferred if the Green Bay Packers used their first-round pick on a player that could help the team immediately, but the star quarterback insists there are no hard feelings over the decision to draft Jordan Love.
Rodgers spoke with reporters on a conference call Friday for the first time since the draft, and he was immediately asked for his opinion on the Packers drafting Love. The two-time NFL MVP said he was “surprised” by the pick and admitted he was not overly excited about it, but he understands why the front office made the decision.
“The general reaction at first was surprise, like many people. Obviously I’m not going to say I was thrilled by the pick necessarily, but I understand,” Rodgers said. “The organization is not only thinking about the present, but about the future. I respect that. I understand their focus and their mindset. Obviously they think he’s such a great talent that they needed to go up and get him. … It’s what those guys are paid to do — to build a roster for now and for the future as well.”
Rodgers made it clear that he is not going to hold the pick against Love, as the former Utah State star had no control over which team selected him.
Aaron Rodgers on Jordan Love: "He didn't ask to be drafted by the #Packers. He's not to blame at all. I had a good conversation with him the day after the draft and I'm excited to work with him."
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) May 15, 2020
The fact that Rodgers reached out to Love is a good indicator that he wants the arrangement to work. Rodgers knows from the time he spent playing behind Brett Favre that it can be uncomfortable waiting in the wings behind a franchise icon, so he should have a good understanding of Love’s perspective.
Rodgers also said he still wants to finish his career in Green Bay but understands that is not entirely in his control.
Rodgers started the answer by saying finishing his career as a Packer “obviously is something that’s very important to me."
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) May 15, 2020
Favre seems to think the Love pick will anger Rodgers to the point where he will want to leave the team. Rodgers is under contract through 2023, but a lot will depend upon how Love develops. If Love gains the confidence of his coaches the same way Rodgers did when he was backing up Favre, it would not be a surprise if Rodgers finishes his career elsewhere.
