Green Bay Packers Explored Trading Up Further To Draft Aaron Rodgers' Successor

The Green Bay Packers made the biggest news in the 2020 NFL Draft, trading up to select Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the No.26 overall pick. General manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur were so enamored with the signal caller that the team attempted to move up even further in the first round.

A source has told The Athletic’s Bob McGinn that the Packers tried to acquire the No.25 pick owned by the Minnesota Vikings. Instead of trading for Green Bay’s No.30 selection, Minnesota moved back and landed the San Francisco 49ers’ No. 31 pick.

The 49ers sent the Vikings the 31st, 117th and 176th picks in order to move up six spots in the first round. In exchange for the 26th pick, the Packers traded the Miami Dolphins the 30th and 136th selections.

Heading into the draft, there was plenty of debate regarding Love’s evaluation. Some mock drafts predicted the quarterback would be a top-20 selection. The first-round results indicate that many teams wouldn’t have taken Love until the second round.

The Indianapolis Colts appear to have been in that group, despite rumors that they were looking to trade into the first round and grab Love on Day 1. Indianapolis’ first pick was the No.34 selection. The Colts traded the No.13 pick to the 49ers for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in March.

The addition of Love might have started the unofficial clock on Aaron Rodgers’ time in Green Bay. The two-time MVP is signed through 2023, but the Packers can conceivably move on from Rodgers after the 2021 season.

Rodgers led Green Bay to an NFC North title and a trip to the conference championship game last season. He was selected to his second straight Pro Bowl, giving him five Pro Bowl appearances in the last six years.

Rodgers will turn 37 years old before the end of the 2020 season. Brett Favre was 38 years old when he temporarily retired and the Packers made Rodgers their new starting quarterback.