The Green Bay Packers shook up the NFL Draft when they not only traded up, but did so in order to select Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. There was a reason for that and it appears to have been a message sent to Aaron Rodgers.
Green Bay is fresh off a NFC Championship game appearance, and most thought the Packers would take a WR high in the draft to help out Rodgers. That did not happen.
- 1 26 QB Jordan Love, Utah State
- 2 62 RB A.J. Dillon, Boston College
- 3 94 TE Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati
- 5 175 LB Kamal Martin, Minnesota
- 6 192 OL Jon Runyan, Michigan
- 6 208 C Jake Hanson, Oregon
- 6 209 OT Simon Stepaniak, Indiana
- 7 236 S Vernon Scott, TCU
- 7 242 EDGE Jonathan Garvin, Miami
According to Bob McGinn of The Athletic, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur apparently wanted to make a power move as he had grown tired of Rodgers’ act and passive-aggressive style.
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“Public niceties aside, my sense is Lafleur, fresh from a terrific 13-3 baptismal season, simply had enough of Rodgers’ act and wanted to change the narrative. With a first-round talent on the roster, the Packers would gain leverage with their imperial quarterback and his passive-aggressive style,” the report read. “If the Packers do indeed want to become a running team next season, they surely wouldn’t want Rodgers rocking the boat and becoming even more difficult to coach.”
Rodgers had a noted bad relationship with former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy that eventually got him fired during the 2018 season.
The 36-year-old threw for 4,002 yards, 26 touchdowns, and four interceptions during the 2019 season.
LaFleur is entering his second season as the team’s head coach.
