Packers HC confident Rodgers will be 'great mentor' for Love
Rather than adding an immediate difference-maker with their first-round pick in the 2020 draft, the Green Bay Packers traded up to select quarterback Jordan Love.
It was a decision that could lead to problems in a quarterback room that already features Aaron Rodgers - something Rodgers experienced when he was drafted as Brett Favre's future replacement back in 2005. However, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur doesn't foresee any issues between the veteran and the rookie who could eventually succeed him.
"I can't say enough about his leadership, his value, his importance to this football team," LaFleur said of Rodgers, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "He is the one that leads us out there. I know he's going to be a great mentor and I'm excited to get back to work with all these guys."
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst can envision a scenario playing out that's similar to what took place with Rodgers and Favre. Rodgers was a backup for the first three years of his career before Green Bay handed him the controls.
"The reason that back when we moved from Brett to Aaron was because of what Aaron had done his first three years here, and that's got to happen with Jordan," Gutekunst said.
"He has to be able to do the work and he has to do that for us to make us believe that he can be a starting quarterback in the National Football League. We drafted him in the first round, we certainly think he has that kind of talent. But that's not enough in the National Football League. You've got to work, you've got to earn it, you've got to become a good enough player."
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