It IS Jordan Love Time !!

57packer said:
Yup, you have a 3-4 year window of guys on rookie deals and the first year of their second contracts which is the cheap year. After that you have some tough decisions to make. You have to resist too many pricey contracts but at some point you need to go a little "all in" with a couple of free agents. To make it work you need to keep drafting almost like you're rebuilding. Don't waste too many picks by trading up to fill a particular hole. You need to keep drafting in quantity so you can keep re-stocking the roster with value priced players.
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Good point about volume. 11 picks in 2022, 13 in 2023 have really restocked the team to what it is now. Keep up that process.
 
rpiotr01 said:
Good point about volume. 11 picks in 2022, 13 in 2023 have really restocked the team to what it is now. Keep up that process.
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Right now including likely comp picks GB has 10-11 picks in the 2024 draft also.
 
Budman said:
That could be huge if Gutey and Co. can nail their draft analysis.
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I never feel good about safeties or corners when they’re drafted, so much variance there. Offensive skill guys are easy to get hyped about but besides RB not sure how many were drafting this year. Not sure how great this draft is going to “feel” but it could wind up being strong
 
Jordan Love year 1 break down:

David Yost might’ve been first to know how the Green Bay Packers’ biggest question last season would be answered. He coached Jordan Love at Utah State, but also Justin Herbert at Oregon, giving him a unique perspective.

To Yost, it was a matter of when Love would catch up to Herbert in the NFL, not if. The two quarterbacks were different, from their personalities to how they threw the football to especially how their professional careers would begin, but Yost saw the all-important trait binding them.

“They both have really high-level arm talent,” Yost said in July, speaking of the two passers he coached as if they were equals, admittedly hard to take seriously as Love entered his first season as the Packers starting quarterback.

Six months ago, Love was an enigma. Yost’s favorable comparison seemed like nothing more than bluster in October, when the Packers were mired in a four-game losing streak, and the NFL’s youngest offense couldn’t score touchdowns in the first half. Five straight games without Love guiding his offense into the end zone before halftime.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love celebrates a season-opening victory against the Chicago Bears.


Then everything changed, astonishingly overnight.

That Love’s first win in his remarkable midseason ascension last season came against Herbert only seemed fitting. The two always will be tied to each other more than people think. Same quarterbacks coach in college. Same draft class. Both first-rounders. Herbert was the third quarterback selected in 2020, Love the fourth. As the Packers prepare to answer their biggest question of the offseason, Herbert again is a useful benchmark.

The market comparable for Love’s upcoming contract extension is Herbert. It might sound strange given Herbert has been considered NFL elite for years, offensive rookie of the year in 2020, guiding the Los Angeles Chargers to the playoffs in 2022. Love has not accumulated Herbert’s career statistics, but he’s already taken the Packers further in his one season than Herbert has taken his team in four. The Chargers’ lone playoff run with Herbert led to an AFC wild-card loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars, giving up a 27-0 lead in the process.

When the Packers jumped ahead 27-0 on the Dallas Cowboys in their NFC wild-card win, Love continued building the lead with two touchdown passes in the second half.

The Packers took many positives out of their 2023 season, but none as significant as Love’s transformation into a franchise quarterback. He was the central force in their late-season run. Even if his extension doesn’t reach Herbert’s annual average salary of $52.5 million, making him the NFL’s second-highest-paid quarterback behind Joe Burrow’s $55 million per year, it will be in the ballpark.

Only four quarterbacks earn an average salary of at least $50 million annually: Burrow, Herbert, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts. Love is poised to become the fifth. It’s the price of doing business with a franchise quarterback in the NFL’s current market, and just one more trait connecting Love with the quarterback drafted ahead of him in 2020.

The good: Jordan Love had instant success on the game’s most important downs​

There were so many surprising developments in Love’s first season, it’s hard to pick his best. Ultimately, Love’s production on third – and fourth – down stand out. A quarterback has the football in his hand on the game’s most important plays. What they do with it decides the difference between wins and losses. “That’s why these guys get paid,” coach Matt LaFleur told PackersNews last month. On third and fourth down, Love completed 116 of 195 passes (59.5%) for 1,346 yards, 18 touchdowns, four interceptions and a 102.64 rating. His prolificity was the biggest reason the Packers finished fourth in the NFL converting 47.9% of their third downs. They led the league in the final three games, all wins to secure a playoff spot, converting 60.6% of their third downs. The three teams ranking ahead of the Packers were quarterbacked by Josh Allen, Dak Prescott and Brock Purdy. The three teams ranking right behind the Packers were quarterbacked by Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes and Matthew Stafford. Squarely in the land of franchise quarterbacks.

The bad: Accuracy throwing deep still needs work​

The most glaring weakness in Love’s first season was his accuracy throwing deep, though that had significantly improved by season’s end. It’s possible, if not likely, Love’s most important pass this season was a 35-yard touchdown to Jayden Reed on a corner route in Pittsburgh. Not because it was a game-winning throw – the Packers lost that afternoon at the Steelers – but Love’s accuracy deep drastically changed after. Before that pass, Love had completed just 13 of 40 throws (32.5%) for 450 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions and a 53.13 rating when targeting 20 yards past the line of scrimmage or deeper. Starting with that touchdown, he completed 22 of 44 passes (50%) for 666 yards, eight touchdowns, two interceptions and a 116.5 rating when targeting the same distance. His accuracy 30 yards or more beyond the line of scrimmage improved even more. “It’s just going to be in time that those plays, when they’re there, I think they’re going to be automatic,” LaFleur told PackersNews days before the Packers opened the playoffs in Dallas. “Because he’s made everything else. He’s improved in so many areas that I think he’s still not a finished product, which is exciting.” Maybe he was onto something. In Dallas, Love completed 4 of 5 passes for 126 yards, two touchdowns and a perfect 158.33 rating targeting 20 yards or deeper. Love’s deep accuracy will be the biggest question following him into his second season, but he showed clear progress.

Biggest need: Retaining Tom Clements as quarterbacks coach was vital for Love’s continued development​

When longtime quarterbacks coach Tom Clements returned from retirement in 2022, he didn’t do it for Love. Even Clements made clear the chance to chase a Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers was his motivating factor. The Packers didn’t get one last ring with Rodgers, but they were fortunate to have Clements’ experience in Love’s first season as starter. LaFleur has made clear Clements is an invaluable piece to Love’s development, from his grounding in quarterback fundamentals to understanding of protections. From the Packers perspective, there was no doubt they wanted Clements to return in 2024. “I mean, we’d be crazy not to, right?” LaFleur hypothetically questioned because, yes, they would be. Clements is 70 years old and, after riding off into retirement once, LaFleur knew it could be tempting again. “Certainly, it was a big sacrifice for him to give up living in California, coming to Green Bay,” LaFleur said. “But, man, I can’t speak enough of the man, the coach, what he’s meant to us.” What his return means to Love, especially. Without Clements, Love would be entering his second season as starter – a platform year – with someone different instructing him daily through the season. To hear the same voice goes a long way toward a smooth transition into Year 2.






Grades​

Jordan Love: In first season taking full-time snaps, became third straight starting quarterback to open a Super Bowl window for Packers. At times, his play cast doubt on whether that was possible. ... After dominant win in opener at Chicago, botched fourth-down sneak in Atlanta led to first loss. Followed with historic comeback from 17-0 deficit in fourth quarter against New Orleans before losing four straight, dropping record to 2-5. Posted a 64.19 passer rating in the losing streak. Three interceptions and no touchdowns in Las Vegas. Through seven games, completed just 57.7% of passes. Dropped record to 3-6 after pair of fourth-quarter interceptions in loss at Pittsburgh. Three of those losses ended on an interceptions. ... Then, unexpectedly, everything changed. In final 10 games, played at an MVP level. Completed 233 of 344 passes (67.7%) for 2,616 yards, 23 touchdowns, three interceptions and a 112.06 passer rating, leading team to a 7-3 record in a stretch that led to the NFC divisional round in San Francisco. ... Finished season 409 of 634 (64.5%) for 4,625 yards, 37 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, a 97.15 rating. More touchdown passes, fewer interceptions and a higher passer rating in the regular season than Aaron Rodgers’ first year as a starter in 2008. Finished second in NFL in touchdown passes, seventh in passing yards, ninth in passer rating. Eleven games with a passer rating in triple digits, tied with Dak Prescott for most in league. Threw only four interceptions inside Lambeau Field, none after October. Had streak of five straight games without an interception snapped in San Francisco. Missed tight end Tucker Kraft high and behind over middle on first. On second, threw late over middle to Christian Watson, a cardinal sin in quarterbacking but also a rare mistake in second half of season. ... Appeared to be in lockstep with LaFleur’s playbook. Strength of his game was accuracy on short and intermediate, completing 376 of 550 passes (68.4%) for 3,683 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions targeting less than 20 yards, a 98.62 rating. Ruthlessly efficient with a clean pocket, completing 326 of 477 passes (68.3%) for 3,546 yards, 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 102.24 rating when given time to set his feet and throw. Took one of his biggest strides with ability to handle pressure. Became adept throwing out of sacks, a benefit to his offensive line. Completed 29 of 61 passes (47.5%) for 405 yards, no touchdowns, one interception and a 62.53 rating when hit or hurried in first nine games. In final 10, completed 55 of 93 (59.1%) for 677 yards, six touchdowns, two interceptions and a 94.24 rating. Perfect passer rating in a dirty pocket at Dallas, completing 8 of 9 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Most impressive throw of his season came on third-and-7 in Dallas, staring down the barrel of a blitzing safety and layering a 20-yard touchdown to Dontayvion Wicks over trail coverage to give Packers a 21-0 lead. ... Capable of making plays with his legs. Crafty runner who finished with 249 yards on 56 carries, including four touchdowns. More yards than Rodgers (207) on same number of carries in 2008. Needs to work on ball security. Nine fumbles. ... Durable. Played 1,203 snaps, second on offense behind center Josh Myers. Never appeared on the injury report or missed a practice. ... Named NFC offensive player of the week in each of his final two regular-season games. His 157.2 passer rating in Dallas tied Houston’s rookie of the year C.J. Stroud for highest ever in a playoff debut. Final 10 games were A-level quarterbacking. First half of season drops grade down a level, but doesn’t change outlook on a bright future. Grade: B
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