Should Colts call Packers about possible Jordan Love trade?
The Indianapolis Colts are in the market for a quarterback and it may be worth exploring a trade for Packers backup Jordan Love.
Many Indianapolis Colts fans had hoped the team could lure a Green Bay Packers quarterback away from Wisconsin and to Indy. The Colts may still be able to do that but not with the quarterback that people had in mind.
Fans were hoping that Indy could somehow land Aaron Rodgers but Rodgers ultimately decided to remain with the Packers. It was initially reported that Rodgers agreed to a four-year deal but later reports have said that no deal is in place yet.
All that is certain is that the 38-year-old Rodgers is returning and possibly for multiple seasons. What’s uncertain is the future of Jordan Love, Green Bay’s backup quarterback.
Since Rodgers is back, and possibly for multiple years, teams may be able to talk the Packers into a trade for love. With Carson Wentz now traded from Indianapolis, Indy could be one of those teams.
The market for Jordan Love now 👀📈 @RealTannenbaum pic.twitter.com/3WD1RH5tKB
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 9, 2022
Should Colts explore a Jordan Love trade with Packers?
Green Bay traded up four spots in the 2020 draft to select Love No. 26 overall. The move was a surprise because Rodgers was still in his prime. However, the Packers were preparing for the future, knowing that Rodgers is closer to the end of his career than the beginning.
Since the selection, Rodgers has won two MVPs and has decided to keep on playing. Love, on the other hand, has only played in six games, starting one, and may soon be traded to another team.
The only problem is that it’ll be tough for interested teams like the Colts to evaluate where Love is at because he doesn’t have an extensive amount of tape in the NFL.
In the game he started against the Kansas City Chiefs, Love completed 19-of-34 passes for 190 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Green Bay lost 13-7.
Love also saw extended action in the Packers’ regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions. He completed 10-of-17 passes for 134 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
So Love hasn’t really blown people away in his outings, but to be fair, he also wasn’t preparing as the starting quarterback.
The best way Indy’s current interest could probably be measured is by going back to look at what Indianapolis thought about Jordan Love as a prospect.
Were the Colts interested in drafting Jordan Love?
There have been several rumors that Indianapolis also considered trading up in the 2020 draft to select Love but Zak Keefer of The Athletic says those reports are false and that Indy wasn’t really sold on Love.
On Jordan Love: Colts weren't sold on him in the draft a few years ago, and any report that Ballard tried to trade into the first round to get him is inaccurate. My gut: I don't think the Colts view him as the guy, not then, not now.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) March 10, 2022
While that may have been the case in 2020, Indy may be willing to take a gamble on Love’s upside in 2022. The Colts’ options are limited at quarterback and the one thing Love has that many of the other options don’t is a future.
Jordan Love is only 23 years old and it’s possible he could become a franchise quarterback for years to come. However, the decision to trade for him will likely come down to Green Bay’s asking price.
Indy probably doesn’t want to give up an early mid-round pick to gamble on Love, but the asking price could drive up with the number of teams that need a quarterback.
The situation most similar to this was in 2017 when the New England Patriots traded Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers for a second-round pick.
The difference though was Jimmy G had been with New England three years and was super impressive in the two games he started. Love is more of an unknown.
Indy has to decide if it wants to sign a veteran for a year or two, or take a gamble on Jordan Love and see if he could be the quarterback of the future.
