Are Packers now likely to trade Jordan Love?

The Green Bay Packers on Tuesday knocked off the most important item of offseason business when they learned Aaron Rodgers would be returning to the team. Not only is Rodgers returning, but he reportedly plans to sign a 4-year, $200 million deal with the team.

Rodgers has said in the past that he wanted to play his entire career with the Packers and play into his 40s. It looks like he will be able to do both now.

But his return leaves one interesting question for the Packers: what will they do with Jordan Love?

Green Bay traded up to select Love in the 2020 NFL Draft. That decision set off tense relations between Rodgers and the Packers; he was upset that they were already looking to replace him. Not only that, but Rodgers felt the draft pick would have been much better used on a player who could help the team win a Super Bowl rather than sit behind him on the bench.

The pick did have the benefit of spurring Rodgers to play at an MVP level two seasons in a row, but Green Bay fell short of its Super Bowl goals both seasons. All the while, Love has barely played.

Love made one start last season and has passed for 411 yards, 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in two seasons. The 23-year-old quarterback is entering the third season of a 4-year, $12.38 million rookie contract with Green Bay. The Packers also have the fifth-year rookie contract option on Love. But even if they exercised the fifth-year option, that would keep him under team control through 2024. Rodgers is now under contract through 2025.

Barring an injury, there isn’t much of a path for Love to play as long as he’s with Green Bay.

Love’s contract is still very reasonable, so Green Bay could easily keep him as their backup. But would Love want to continue on as a backup? He could request a trade. Or, the Packers could decide to deal him now to see what they could get in return for him. This particular draft is weak on quarterbacks, so it might be the best time to trade him.

Longtime Packers reporter Tom Silverstein believes the team has “no choice” but to trade Love.