Why Green Bay Packers’ Late Playoff Push Complicates Their Future At Quarterback

As the Green Bay Packers prepare for their Week 17 clash with the Minnesota Vikings, they enter with playoff aspirations.

After starting out the season at 4-8 with little hope of making it to the playoffs, the Packers now have a very feasible chance at making it in after a three-game win streak.

Simply put, if the Packers win their last two games — both home games versus the Vikings and Detroit Lions — and either the Washington Commanders lose one game or the New York Giants lose both games, Green Bay is in.

And that just complicates Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love’s future with the Packers moving forward.

When Green Bay lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12 to drop to 4-8, there were calls for Love to take the reins at quarterback. The former first-round draft pick actually stepped into that game and nearly led the Packers to victory, looking impressive while he completed six-of-nine passes for 113 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

In fact, Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd was one of the many media personalities to call for the Packers to start Love in early November, citing Green Bay’s unlikely chances at making the playoffs and the opportunity to showcase Love as possible trade bait as reasons why.

“Secondly, you gotta show people what Jordan Love is and you have to show yourself,” said Cowherd. “If not, by May you have to make a decision— are you going to pay him? Whether you pay him or not, you gotta know: does he have the goods? Since Green Bay does not get free agents, historically the way to improve this team is trade pieces. If he’s good, keep Aaron, and move Love to get some pieces. This team needs an infusion of young and cheap players.”

The problem is this — now that the Packers are making a late playoff push, there’s been no reason to play Love. Which means he has little trade value as he concludes his third season.

Green Bay has until May to decide whether or not they want to pick up his fifth-year option valued around $20 million. In a worst-case scenario where the Packers miss the playoffs, they will have missed an opportunity at showcasing and evaluating Love.

Whether or not the Packers make the playoffs will likely dictate their future at quarterback. Make the playoffs and win a playoff game or two with rookie wide receivers leading the way and the Packers likely move forward with Rodgers and his $58.3 million guaranteed option heading into next season.

Miss the playoffs or have a quick one-and-done exit in the postseason could spell the end of Rodgers’ tenure with the Packers. It could lead to Green Bay exploring possible trades for the 39-year-old quarterback. Considering his slight decline in play, his age and the big demand for quarterbacks entering the offseason, the Packers would be wise to reap the rewards of trading a highly-expensive aging quarterback.

However, by going this route, the Packers could be rebuilding with Love, who might not be a franchise quarterback after all. That’s because through three seasons, he has started one total game and thrown just 80 career pass attempts.

Just a month prior, it seemed as if the Packers were destined for a non-playoff season. Rodgers was frustrated with his young receivers in Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs and it almost appeared as if the 18-year veteran could retire this offseason or possibly seek a trade. Green Bay officially falling out of the playoff race would have opened the door for Love to start.

But the Packers may now be playing with fool’s gold. A late season playoff push is complicating the team’s future at the quarterback position.

If Green Bay sticks with Rodgers, the Packers may be making a mistake with their decision on Love’s future. Furthermore, it leaves them stuck with the biggest contract in the NFL over the next three years. On the other end of the spectrum, if the Packers move Rodgers via trade this offseason, it would clear up major cap space and bring in assets. But they’d be rebuilding with a quarterback who might not be able to cut it in this league.

The Packers’ late postseason push may be the best storyline in the NFL right now. After a disastrous start, Green Bay could very well make it to the postseason for the fourth consecutive season.

However, this late postseason push leaves a lot of question marks at quarterback heading into the offseason.

Regardless of how this season ends, the Packers will have some big decisions to make.