Packers GM says he hasn't 'connected' with Aaron Rodgers after drafting QB Jordan Love
The Green Bay Packers pulled off a stunner In the first night of the NFL draft by trading up and taking Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick.
And it doesn’t seem they were able to speak with their current quarterback Aaron Rodgers about the move.
Packers GM hasn’t talked to Rodgers yet
Rodgers and the Packers lost in the NFC championship game last season and were expected to take an offensive weapon to help get back to the Super Bowl. Instead they picked an offensive leader for the future.
When asked how Rodgers felt about the draft pick late Thursday, general manager Brian Gutekunst said he hadn’t “connected with” the Future Hall of Famer yet, per Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Olivia Reiner.
GM Brian Gutekunst: "I haven't connected with Aaron (Rodgers) yet."
— Olivia Reiner (@ReinerOlivia) April 24, 2020
It was 15 years ago that Rodgers was in the shoes Love is in now as the Packers’ heir apparent as the No. 24 overall pick in the 2005 draft. He was selected with the legendary Brett Favre as their starter. Rodgers served as the backup until 2008, when Favre spent the final three seasons of his career with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings.
Rodgers said ahead of the draft he would welcome the team’s pick no matter who it is and even referenced the team taking a quarterback.
“No matter who you bring in, they’re not going to be able to beat me out anytime soon,” he said in March.
He added: "We haven't picked a skill player in the first round in 15 years, so that would be kind of cool."
Packers GM says plan is to have Rodgers ‘for a while’
Gutekunst said on the call that Rodgers is still their quarterback and it’s not fair to Love to say he’s the eventual replacement.
“Aaron's been around a long time and knows what we're playing for right now," Gutekunst said, via the Packers’ website. "We have the best quarterback in the National Football League and we plan to have him for a while competing for championships.
"I think he'll be a pro's pro. He's playing for legacy-type things, historic-type stuff. I know he's very, very motivated."
Love fell to Packers
Love was viewed as the draft’s mystery quarterback with the potential to sneak into the first round or drop to the second round. The Packers sent their No. 30 pick and a fourth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins to move up four spots and draft him.
"This was not something we set out to do," Gutekunst said, per the Packers’ site. "He just happened to be a guy we liked who fell to us, and this was the best decision."
He said “down the road” Love can be a difference-maker for the team.
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