The Green Bay Packers shocked, literally, everyone when they traded up in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft to select Jordan Love from Utah State. Packers’ fans, who should have remembered what it was like when Aaron Rodgers was drafted in 2005 to be the heir to Brett Favre, were beside themselves. General manager Brian Gutekunst was highly criticized by the fanbase and media for years over his decision to take Love.
Of course, the decision to draft Love also destroyed the organization’s relationship with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. To his credit, Rodgers embraced is role as Love’s mentor and has worked with him extensively throughout the years. Even after eventually leaving Green Bay, Rodgers has stated multiple times how proud he is of Love and that he thinks Love will be a great NFL quarterback.
While Gutekunst and the Packers front office appear to have made the right decision back in 2020, it is interesting to note that one of Green Bay’s rival coaches really wanted Love on his own team.
Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love Was Coveted by Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores
Many were surprised by Green Bay’s selection of Love in the 2020 NFL Draft because he was not seen as a finished product. Of course, the Packers did not need a finished product because they had Rodgers.
Love, however, was an unknown. If he worked out and improved the way some thought he could, it would be a home run draft pick. However, he just as easily could not have panned out.
That being said, much of the criticism Love has received since he entered the NFL was because of where he went and who he was replacing. There were other NFL coaches that were as enamored with him as Green Bay, though.
According to a report, Brian Flores, now the defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, wanted the Miami Dolphins to draft Love with the 18th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
🚨 Brian Flores’ desire for the 2020 NFL Draft was to draft an OT with the 5th pick and then to draft QB Jordan Love with the 18th pick (@OmarKelly) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/bJ9h5GfRaQ
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) July 14, 2024
Instead of listening to Flores, the Dolphins took quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick and offensive tackle Austin Jackson with the 18th. Both players still play with Miami.
The Green Bay Packers May Have Done It Again with Jordan Love
The 2023 was, of course, Love’s first season as the Packers’ starter. It was also the first time that Tagovailoa played a full 17-game season for Miami. Here is how their numbers stacked up:
| Jordan Love | Tua Tagovailoa | |
| Completion % | 64.2% | 69.3% |
| Passing Yards | 4,159 | 4,624 |
| Touchdowns | 32 | 29 |
| Interceptions | 11 | 14 |
| Passer Rating | 96.1 | 101.1 |
While it was Tagovailoa’s first full season as the Dolphins’ starter, it was far from his first time as their starting quarterback. He missed four games in 2022 with concussions and had made 34 starts before the 2023 season.
Love made one start before the 2023 season.
Tagovailoa had Tyreek Hill and Jayden Waddle to throw to, two proven All-Pro level wide receivers. Love had a room full of rookies and second-year players.
There is no doubt that the Dolphins have a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback, but the Packers likely will end up with the better one when it is all said and done.
