With Aaron Rodgers staying in Green Bay, Jordan Love becomes a name who could be added to the Steelers quarterback watch list this offseason.
We don’t know who the starting quarterback will be for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, but we do know that it won’t be Aaron Rodgers. To be fair, this was really just a dream from the start, but after signing a with the Packers, Rodgers is officially off the table.
Now that Rodgers’ future will be in Green Bay, it’s likely that Jordan Love’s will not. The backup quarterback was the former 26th overall pick by the Packers in 2020 and still has two years remaining on his rookie contract with potential for a fifth-year option.
With Rodgers locked up for what will likely be the remainder of his NFL career, Love is a prime candidate to see the trade block in the near future, and it’s possible that there are already teams calling to inquire about a potential deal.
The Steelers, of course, are in need of a new franchise quarterback (or at the very least, a QB who could help get the job done in the meantime). While he may not be your favorite option on the table for Pittsburgh, Jordan Love, at the very least, becomes a name that will enter the conversation for the Steelers.
Is Love an option for Steelers?
Unlike the king’s ransom Pittsburgh would have been forced to send the Green Bay Packers, Jordan Love won’t cost nearly as much. However, it will be interesting to see what the Packers will be willing to part with after recently spending elite draft capital on him.
Through the first two seasons of his NFL career, Love has done very little to boost his trade value. Love saw the field for the first time in meaningful action this year and completed 36 of 62 passes for 411 yards (6.6 yards per attempt) to go with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, via Pro Football Reference.
This sample is rather unspectacular. Combine that with the fact that his first two preseasons have been somewhat underwhelming, and perhaps the Packers are willing to part with Love for a late day-two draft choice.
Personally, I’m not very high on Jordan Love — never was. I saw too many accuracy and decision-making issues during his time at Utah State, and despite his impressive athletic testing, Love is hardly a threat to move the chains with his legs.
There are some positives to note, however. Jordan Love will be just 23 years old for the majority of the 2022 season, and he has good size and traits for a developmental quarterback. In addition, he has had two years to sit and learn behind one of the best in the business in Aaron Rodgers.
It seems likely that the Steelers will try to look to improve the quarterback position through the NFL Draft or perhaps with a veteran in free agency. Still, with Rodgers inking a new deal to stay in Green Bay, the Packers have no incentive to keep Jordan Love around, and he might become a player Pittsburgh would consider trading for.