Schefter: Jordan Love Trades Not Discussed by Packers after Aaron Rodgers' Return

The idea of trading quarterback Jordan Love reportedly isn't "gaining traction" for the Green Bay Packers despite the return of Aaron Rodgers.

ESPN's Adam Schefter discussed Love's status Wednesday on Get Up! after Rodgers announced Tuesday he planned to remain with the Packers:

"I'm not expecting that right now. Look, this could change during the course of the offseason, but I don't know that there's another team out there that could wind up giving Green Bay enough value to make them want to move on from him, and we don't know if Aaron Rodgers is playing one or two more years, and Green Bay probably still likes Jordan Love as its QB of the future. He probably has more value to the Packers than he does to other teams, and I haven't heard anything of the sort that he's available or that teams are looking into him. Now, again, in this league, as we know, anything is always possible. Never rule out anything. But I haven't heard any conversation of that sort with that sort of issue gaining traction so far."

Green Bay selected Love with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2020 draft. Since then, Rodgers has won back-to-back regular-season NFL MVP Awards and led the team to a pair of NFC North titles while going 26-6 as the starter.

The 10-time Pro Bowl selection has shown no significant signs of physical decline despite turning 38 in December, and the Packers will likely continue to bring him back as their starter as long as he's willing to stay. Tom Brady played at an elite level until his retirement in February at 44.

In turn, Love's outlook is clouded, and it's fair to wonder what Green Bay could receive in a trade given this year's mostly mundane groups of free agents and draft prospects at the sport's most important position.

The 23-year-old Utah State product drew his first career start in 2021 while Rodgers was sidelined on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He completed 19 of his 34 throws for 190 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 13-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He added 23 rushing yards.

It's impossible to make any conclusions based on a single appearance, though. Love acknowledged afterward that he wasn't in tune with top target Davante Adams on multiple occasions in that contest, a common issue for backup signal-callers.

"It's something that takes time, being able to build that chemistry," Love told reporters. "Obviously, it's something him and Aaron have very well; they've been together for a while. So the chemistry wasn't there yet, but it's something that I think it would progress as the game went on. We were talking through some things and just getting on the same page."

The Packers would also have to weigh any trade offer against their need for a reliable backup quarterback given their status as a Super Bowl contender.

That factor is why Schefter referenced how Love could carry more value to Green Bay, even while sitting second on the depth chart, than he would bring back in a possible deal.

So there are a lot of variables in play, and if a team ends up missing out on its preferred option as part of the offseason quarterback carousel, it's possible a front office reaches out to Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst with an offer he can't refuse.

Barring that type of situation, however, Love will probably remain in Green Bay as the backup while playing out his team-friendly four-year, $12.4 million rookie contract.