Packers trade up to draft Rodgers’ successor?

The Green Bay Packers shocked a sports-starved world last night, trading up in the first round to draft, potentially, Aaron Rodgers replacement in Utah State quarterback Jordan Love.

ESPN Packers beat reporter Rob Demovsky said on Twitter:

• No, GM Brian Gutekunst didn’t tell Rodgers he was going to do it.
• And no, Love doesn’t know how Rodgers will react.
• But it’s sure to be fascinating theater.

The Packers traded the Miami Dolphins a fourth-rounder to move from No 30 to to snag Love at No. 26 — one spot lower than when Green Bay drafted Brett Favre’s replacement in 2005 with a Cal QB named Rodgers.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound QB went 7-6 last season with 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He was much better in 2018, going 11-2 with 32 TDs and just six picks.

On the flip side, Rodgers was 13-3 last season, a game away from the Super Bowl and possibly would have been in the championship if the Packers could stop San Francisco 49ers’ running back Raheem Mostert, who ran for 220 yards with a 7.6-per-carry average and four TDs.

Gutekunst defended the pick saying “I know a lot of people will look at this as not a move for the immediate, and I understand that, but the balance of the immediate and the long term is something that I have to consider, and that’s why we did it.”

And, Rodgers, a month ago, did say of his team drafting QBs, “I understand the business and nature of it. Obviously, love to bring in guys that are going to play and compete right away. … (But) I wouldn’t have a problem.”

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was asked about the Packers taking Love.

“I think Rodgers should retire,” he joked. “I don’t know what was going on in their minds. We just worry about us. We’re trying to get guys to beat ’em.”

Green Bay hadn’t drafted an offensive player since 2011, when the Packers took Mississippi State tackle Derek Sherrod 32nd.