Once the smoke cleared from the Aaron Rodgers trade this offseason, one of the secondary concerns for the Green Bay Packers was who would backup quarterback Jordan Love. Green Bay opted to utilize the draft, selecting Penn State’s Sean Clifford in the fifth round. While many are still clamoring for the Packers to add a veteran quarterback behind Love, it wouldn’t make much sense at this point.
There can be, and likely are, multiple reasons why some in Packer Land want a veteran quarterback behind Love instead of the rookie Clifford.
In an ideal world, someone with experience like a Matt Ryan or Teddy Bridgewater would be able to help Love learn the ropes as he adjusts to being the starter. While valuable, it’s hard to imagine Love didn’t soak up much of that situational stuff while observing Rodgers during Love’s first three seasons.
Think of it this way: Is any veteran quarterback really going to make the difference in whether or not Love flourishes in Year 1? Probably not.
Of course, there’s always the what if scenario. What if Love gets hurt? Wouldn’t the Packers want someone with starting experience to hold down the fort so the Packers can still push for a postseason run?
Eh, look around the league.
Patrick Mahomes exists. As does Joe Burrow, Rodgers, Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson — the list keeps going. The point is, if Love were to be sidelined with an injury, there’s a slim-to-zero chance that the Packers will be able to contend, despite whoever they jog out as a filler at the position. It’s not a knock against Green Bay’s roster construction, it’s life in the NFL.
Imagine taking Burrow out of the equation for the Bengals. Even with a trio at wide receiver of Tyler Boyd, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, is that team truly competing for a title? Doubtful.
Adding another salary to the books in the form of a backup quarterback just to have a veteran presence in Love’s ear at this stage wouldn’t be worth it. If Love were a rookie, that dynamic drastically changes.
Look at Bryce Young. The No. 1-overall pick will be entering his first year in the league, so the Carolina Panthers signed quarterback Andy Dalton as a buffer of sorts to help Young get settled into the NFL. If he’s committed to the plan, Dalton’s presence could be extremely valuable for the rookie.
While Love is a first-year starter, he’s not a first-year player. It’s also not as though he’s getting tossed into the fire unexpectedly or after one season.
The Packers deliberately handed over the keys to Love after dealing Rodgers, and Love has had the entire offseason to brace himself for his new reality. He’s also had three massive years to absorb information, study Rodgers, his habits, his mannerisms, his preparation on game week. Having those three years for Love is worth more than any veteran quarterback Green Bay could bring in at the start of training camp.
Look at Rodgers’ situation when he entered the league for another example.
Rodgers had legendary quarterback Brett Favre as a guide (well, sort of). At the very least, Rodgers got to observe Favre’s process after he was drafted in the first round. When it was Rodgers’ turn three years after he was drafted, Green Bay didn’t scurry to add a veteran quarterback. Instead, they drafted a pair of quarterbacks: Louisville’s Brian Brohm in the second round and LSU’s Matt Flynn in the seventh. Flynn would stick as the backup, and he was a great one for the Packers. Green Bay appears to be heading in a similar direction with its No. 2 quarterback question mark now, and it’s the right move.
Backup quarterbacks can often be the most popular player amongst a fanbase when a starter struggles. The reality paints a not-so-friendly picture when you realize that there aren’t too many backups, if any, who could come in during a season and lead a team to the promised land. Nick Foles did it in Philadelphia in 2018 when quarterback Carson Wentz went down, but that’s the exception that proves the rule.
Love is the guy in Green Bay now, and Clifford will likely battle Danny Etling for the backup gig when training camp starts at the end of July. There isn’t a backup in the world who’s available that has a magic potion to significantly help Love in his first year as starter, nor is there one available who would prevent a catastrophe if Love were to get injured in 2023. The Packers are handling this situation correctly.
