Usually, the NFL Draft is a celebration of new talent and team spirit.
However, the Packers made a decision in 2020 that startled both the league and their own star quarterback. Aaron Rodgers of their own, yes. Jordan Love’s selection in the first round wasn’t solely a calculated decision. It was a straightforward beginning to a tale full of drama, reflection, and legacy disputes.
This was not how it was intended to happen! The Packers had just finished with a 13-3 record and qualified for the NFC Championship under Aaron Rodgers. The next logical step? To move Green Bay closer to another Super Bowl, bolster the roster with a guy who can make an immediate impact. Rather, the Packers selected a quarterback by trading up. In the Netflix documentary Enigma, Rodgers, who watched the virtual draft from home, described how the occasion caught him off guard. “I just received a text from my agent saying, ‘Quarterback,’ when I looked down at my phone. And I thought, “No f—— way.”
The incredulity didn’t end there. “Then the pick happens, and I immediately got off the couch and was super non-reactive,” Rodgers recalled, clearly shaken. I knew there would be some fascinating chats, so I went to get myself some tequila before returning to the couch. This was déjà vu, not simply a gut-punch to the emotions! In 2005, Rodgers was selected as Brett Favre’s heir apparent, putting him in Jordan Love’s position.
The choice was contentious for a number of reasons. Earlier that evening, Rodgers had said in public—even in jest on The Pat McAfee Show—that he preferred a player with a skill position. “Yeah, it would be cool because we haven’t selected a skill position player in the first round in fifteen years.” Though Rodgers still had a lot left in him, many saw Green Bay’s executive office’s decision to select a quarterback over a receiver to compliment his best play as a sign that they were looking beyond him.
What followed was extraordinary. In 2020 and 2021, Rodgers transformed his annoyance into consecutive MVP seasons, displaying genius that seemed to highlight the Love pick’s lack of foresight. But concerns about wasted potential persisted as the Packers missed out on the playoffs both seasons. Would a different 2020 draft have changed Green Bay’s course?
Competition, mentoring, and Rodgers’s potential
In stark contrast to Brett Favre’s strategy years prior, Rodgers made a deliberate effort to mentor Jordan Love despite the pain of being caught off guard. In Enigma, Rodgers recognised the value of empathy. “Over time, you get perspective that allows you to view things somewhat differently. Remove your ego and show empathy. Matt LaFleur, the head coach of the Packers, commended Rodgers for his surprising mentoring role. He was a mentor to Jordan and embraced him with open arms. He was never requested to do it by me. Our coaches didn’t ask him to be that.
It was an important move that changed the public perception of Rodgers as a leader who was prepared to foster the development of a possible successor, despite the fact that this was frequently misinterpreted.
Nonetheless, Rodgers’ character subtleties are still present. Before joining the Jets in 2023 after 18 years in Green Bay, he became a famous figure who wasn’t adored by everyone. In contrast to his peers like Tom Brady, former NFL player Michael Bennett Jr., who played against Rodgers on multiple occasions, said he was a difficult person to like. Bennett underlined that although Rodgers is clearly competitive, his strong desire may push others away.
The Love pick is still controversial, though. The Packers and Rodgers had formally split up by 2023. by sending him to the Jets of New York! Although Jordan Love has since taken over as Green Bay’s starting quarterback and guided the team to a 10-4 record? The Packers’ choice to put succession ahead of short-term success is surrounded by the spectre of what-if scenarios. Was it worth the money to make the pick? Or did it forgo Rodgers’ last years of excellence in favour of an uncertain future?
Regarding Rodgers, his time with the Jets has been difficult due to injuries and criticism of his leadership. In the documentary, Rodgers remarked, “You can’t help but wonder what might’ve been,” in reference to the lost chances.
