After Developing At Utah State, Jordan Love’s Packers Career Will Feature Playoff Appearance

When the Packers sought to expand their lead and get closer to a playoff berth, they turned to Jordan Love. And the young quarterback delivered.

Love, a former All-Mountain West selection while he was at Utah State, lined up in a shotgun formation as the Packers had the ball at the Chicago Bears’ 12-yard line on third down and 3 early in the third quarter last weekend. The Packers were leading 7-6, but that was a slim margin in a contest that would decide Green Bay’s playoff fate.

After a three-step drop, Love fired a dart to wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who ran a quick slant and found space in between defenders. Then Wicks did the rest and ran in for a score.

That would be the final touchdown of the game and all the Packers would need to hold on for a win over their rivals and advance to the postseason.

Love faced high expectations after the Packers had two legendary quarterbacks before him. In his first season as the full-time starter, he’s shown encouraging signs he can be the franchise’s quarterback for years to come.

Jordan Love’s College Career Led To Him Becoming A First-Round Draft Pick

Before he began his pro career, Love made the All-Mountain West second team as a sophomore in 2018 and was on the all-conference honorable mention list in 2019.

Over three years with the Aggies, he threw for 8,600 yards, 60 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions on a 61.2% completion rate. He also holds USU’s career record with 9,003 yards of total offense.

That all led to the Packers trading up to take Love with the 26th pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

For more Group of Five coverage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Packers QB Lineage Features Jordan Love, Aaron Rodgers & Brett Favre

Since the early 1990s, the Packers had only had two Day 1 starting quarterbacks going into this season. One was Brett Favre, a Super Bowl-winning Hall of Famer. The other was Aaron Rodgers, who also led Green Bay to a Super Bowl and will also likely make the Hall of Fame.

So after Rodgers went to the Jets, Love had to live up to that standard. Similar to Rodgers being a first-round pick who sat on the bench when Favre was still playing for the Packers, Love was mostly a backup for the first three years of his career.

While it did force the Packers to use up years of Love being on a cheap rookie contract, he also had time to learn the intricacies of the pro game before he became the full-time signal caller. And while his first year as a starter hasn’t been perfect, he certainly has shown potential.

Jordan Love’s Current Contract

Love has been on his rookie contract the past four years. He’s made $19.9 million from 2020 to 2023. 

But he signed a one-year extension that will pay him $22.5 million in 2024. That includes $10 million in base salary.

Jordan Love’s Stats In 2023 As The Green Bay Packers’ Starter

There are several indicators that Love will develop into a standout pro quarterback. 

One has been his simultaneous lack of stellar wide receivers and willingness to spread the ball around.

Seven Packers have 40 or more targets this year, while none have more than 100. Six have 350 or more receiving yards but none have more than 800. And 10 Packers have at least one touchdown catch from Love but none have more than eight.

He’s also willing to throw to different areas of the field. While 41% of his throws have been 0-9 yards downfield, 18% were behind the line of scrimmage, 21% were 10-19 yards downfield, and 14% were throws of 20-plus yards.

And despite his youth and inexperience, he was aggressive in 2023 – and it’s paid off. He’s tied for third in the league with 32 completed passes which were 20 or more yards down the field and tied for third with 32 first downs on such throws. 

He’s seventh in the NFL with an average depth of target of 9 yards and is fifth with 34 big-time throws, as defined by Pro Football Focus. Simultaneously, he has 17 turnover-worthy plays, which is tied for 14th.

Love’s performance under pressure is also astounding. He’s ninth in PFF’s grades of quarterbacks when under pressure.

That’s also not to mention that he’s second in the league in touchdown passes (32) and yards (4,159).

If Love can help the Packers make a playoff run, that would only further prove he is capable of being another successful quarterback in Green Bay.