Three Players the Green Bay Packers Could Have Selected in Place of Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draught
Under pressure from a Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) delivers an incomplete pass to running back Aaron Jones.
In the first round of the 2020 NFL Draught, the Green Bay Packers traded up to select Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick. Many, like former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, were taken aback by it. Green Bay is 3-5 this year, and Love has performed ok thus far this season.
The Green Bay Packers selected a number of guys after Jordan Love was selected that might have eventually benefited this football club. In the NFL Draught, which three players did general manager Brian Gutekunst pass on?
In that scenario, the Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver Tee Higgins would have been a better choice than Jordan Love.
By the time Green Bay traded up to the 26th pick in the NFL Draught, Justin Jefferson, Devonta Smith, and CeeDee Lamb had already been selected. When Tee Higgins became available from Clemson, the Cincinnati Bengals selected him with the 33rd overall pick in the second round.
Wide Receiver Tee Higgins Would Have Been the Best Option for the Green Bay Packers in that situation Over Jordan Love
It was shocking that the Packers did not select a wide receiver in the draught because they were in desperate need of one in 2020. Although Davante Adams was a major source of comfort for Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay had few reliable pass-catching alternatives. Higgins had the opportunity to change things.
Considering that Tee Higgins was one of the most gifted wide receivers available in the 2020 NFL Draught, it was shocking that he fell to the second round of the draught. With the Cincinnati Bengals across his first four NFL seasons, he has caught 242 passes for 3,356 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. With each reception, Higgins is averaging 13.9 yards.
For many NFL teams, Tee Higgins would be their top receiving option. The sole explanation for his non-existence is Ja’Marr Chase. As Tee Higgins is a free agent and may choose not to re-sign with the Cincinnati Bengals organisation, he could end up wearing a Green Bay Packers uniform following the 2023 season.
Cornerback Trevon Diggs
The Dallas Cowboys selected Trevon Diggs with the 51st overall (second-round pick) choice in the 2020 NFL Draught. Although he has improved the Cowboys secondary, an ACL tear in 2023 ended his season. Having racked up eighteen career interceptions in his first four NFL seasons, Diggs seems set to stay with the Dallas Cowboys.
Diggs would have instantly benefited Green Bay in the secondary if they had picked him.As Freddie Boston clarified:
“The Packers selected Eric Stokes in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draught for a purpose. Three months prior, in the NFC Championship game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Packers were defeated due to subpar performance in the secondary (except from Jaire Alexander). If the Packers had selected Trevon Diggs in the previous draught, they might have been able to avert their terrible defensive showing against Tom Brady. With the Dallas Cowboys, Diggs has developed into a first-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl player. He and Alexander would have made up a formidable cornerback tandem in Green Bay. Diggs is a revolutionary. With the Cowboys, he has 18 interceptions in 47 career games, including two pick-sixes. In2021, he had the most selections (11) in the NFL.
The Dallas Cowboys and Trevon Diggs have already agreed to a contract extension. After the 2028 season, he won’t be able to sign free agents without restriction. Diggs is already one of the league’s best players.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Jalen Hurts with the 53rd overall pick (second-round pick) in the 2020 NFL Draught. Hurts was originally selected to be Carson Wentz’s backup, but things quickly changed for them. The previous season, Jalen Hurts led Philadelphia to Super Bowl LVII; however, they were defeated by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
This season, Hurts has passed 2,347 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions on 68.9% of his throws. Along with seven touchdowns, he has also run for 316 yards on 88 runs. 3.6 yards are averaged by Jalen Hurts each carry.
About Jalen Hurts, Boston stated:
The Packers should find solace in the fact that Hurts required time. Philadelphia’s offence gradually took shape around him. I hope the same can be said for Love. However, the Packers would regret missing out on the opportunity to select Hurts, who has emerged as an Eagles star, if the Love selection doesn’t pan out.
Was the Green Bay Packers’ selection of Jordan Love, the 26th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draught, a mistake? Whether or not they made a mistake will depend on what transpires for the remainder of the season.
