The Green Bay Packers shocked NFL fans on Thursday night by moving up from the 30th pick – after a trade with the Miami Dolphins – to the 26th pick to select Utah State quarterback Jordan Love.
Love is seen by many as the potential heir to 36-year-old Aaron Rodgers, a two-time MVP.
“I haven’t connected with Aaron yet, but he’s obviously been through this and he’s a pro,” Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said, according to ESPN. “I think it’s certainly, this is something that is a long-term decision. I think when you go through kind of the way things went tonight, you run the short term and the long term. The way the board fell, this was the best decision for the Packers. I think obviously Aaron’s been around for a long time, and he knows what we’re playing for right now, and that’s what’s most important right now.”
Love had more than 9,000 yards of total offense at Utah State while throwing for 8,600 yards, 60 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. He declared for the draft after his junior year.
Love is the first offensive skill-position player drafted in the first round by the Packers since they took Rodgers in 2005.
