Packers GM – Need more time to evaluate QB Jordan Love

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Seven video games into Aaron Rodgers‘ first season because the Green Bay Packers beginning quarterback again in 2008, they gave him a contract extension. On the identical level in Jordan Love‘s first season as QB1, the Packers nonetheless want extra time to judge whether or not he is the long-term way forward for the franchise.

Love nonetheless has one other 12 months left on his deal, so it is not paramount from a contractual scenario. However they might moderately it not take greater than this season to know whether or not he is the reply.

“I hope not,” Packers normal supervisor Brian Gutekunst stated Wednesday throughout his annual midseason information convention. “I believe we have 10 video games left. These are going to be crucial 10 video games.”

The Packers began 2-1 below Love, and he had seven touchdowns and only one interception to that time. Since then, the Packers have misplaced 4 straight and Love has thrown 4 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

“I believe he is achieved numerous actually good issues,” Gutekunst stated. “Actually like the best way he is responded to the adversity, how he is led the workforce. Once more, we have to be higher as a unit, and I anticipate that to occur over the following 10 video games. And I believe that we’re going by way of some issues that we knew we might undergo. We’ve not had the outcomes that we wish, however I do like the best way guys are responding to issues.”

The offense’s struggles within the first half have crippled the workforce. Opponents have outscored Inexperienced Bay 73-9 mixed within the first halves of the previous 5 video games. Its minus-59 first-half level differential is tied for the second worst within the NFL. The Packers are plus-42 within the second half, which is second greatest within the league.

Gutekunst described Love’s play as “a bit of up and down.”

“Like our whole offense, proper?” he stated. “I believe it has been a piece in progress for the complete offense. There’s been glimpses, significantly within the second halves, of actually good soccer. However we’ve got not began very properly. So, I believe that group, that unit as a complete has numerous work to do. However on the identical time, they’re form of dedicated to the method, consider in that group of fellows and anticipate higher outcomes coming.”

Gutekunst surrounded Love with the youngest roster within the NFL and didn’t do something to vary that earlier than Tuesday’s commerce deadline. Nowhere is that extra evident than on the pass-catching positions, the place, between receivers and tight ends, the Packers have 9 gamers of their first or second season within the NFL. Fourth-year tight finish Josiah Deguara is the one receiver or tight finish with greater than two years of expertise.

Love ranks final in completion price (57.7%) among the many 32 qualifying quarterbacks, simply behind the Jets’ Zach Wilson (58.3%). The Packers rank twenty fifth in complete yards per sport and twenty first in passing yards per sport.

“When the group as a complete just isn’t functioning the best way it ought to operate, then it is exhausting to judge anyone,” Gutekunst stated. “On the identical time, it is on us to get that proper so we are able to transfer ahead and consider the blokes we’ve got in that room. However yeah, after we’re not clicking, it is powerful to judge something.”

Gutekunst’s feedback got here two days after coach Matt LaFleur stated it has been troublesome to judge Love so far.

“I believe to be able to do this, I believe all people’s bought to play higher round him, fairly frankly,” LaFleur stated Monday. “Are there some issues he can do higher? Completely. I believe he’d be the primary to let you know. Are there some issues we are able to do as a employees to assist our guys? Completely. After which, when there are performs there to be made, we have to make the performs.”

Though Love spent three seasons as Rodgers’ backup, Gutekunst stated he has evaluated him as a first-year participant.

Gutekunst within the offseason signed Like to a contract extension that’s price as much as $22.5 million by way of the 2024 season. It was instead of exercising the fifth-year possibility on his rookie deal. Rodgers additionally took over in his fourth 12 months, however at the moment there was not a fifth-year possibility in contracts of first-round picks, so Rodgers entered his first season because the starter within the remaining 12 months of his unique contract.

The Packers seem headed for a top-10 draft choose this offseason except they’ll flip issues round starting with Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Rams. Tuesday’s commerce of Rasul Douglas to the Payments together with a fifth-round choose bought them a 2024 third-round choose in return. It means the Packers presently personal 5 picks within the first three rounds, which provides them loads of flexibility if they should choose one other quarterback.

“I actually do consider within the group in that constructing and the teaching employees, and I believe large issues are forward,” Gutekunst stated. “It is simply going, we have to get by way of these items. We have got to be taught from ’em. We have got to remain grounded by way of the method, and if we do this, I believe the outcomes will come.”