Former NFL QB Places Rodgers in Top 10 in Quarterback Rankings

Former NFL quarterback Matt Cassel’s top 32 quarterbacks include Aaron Rodgers. What about Jordan Love?

GREEN BAY, Wis. – There are many layers to the drama surrounding Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. One of the big ones: How much better is Rodgers than Jordan Love?

Writing for The 33rd Team, former NFL quarterback Matt Cassel ranked the top 32 quarterbacks. Rodgers is No. 8; Love is not ranked.

“It’s like Groundhog Day right now,” Cassel wrote. “When will Aaron Rodgers reveal himself from his cave, and what will the news be when he comes out? But seriously folks, without knowing if he’ll end up with the Green Bay Packers or another team, it’s tough to quantify his ranking. We do know the New York Jets have reached out already. If he winds up in the right spot, expect to see one of the greatest ever challenge the guys above him on this list for the top spot.”

Two points to this.

First, the Packers obviously have a much fuller picture of Love than anyone else after watching him develop for three seasons. Love just hasn’t had a chance to prove whether he’s a top-10 quarterback, a bottom-10 quarterback or somewhere in between.

“We really like the development of where Jordan is,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said at the end of the season. “I think he’s ready to play. I think that’s the next step in his development.”

Second, the Packers could have let him take that next step late last season. In Week 12, the Packers fell to 4-8 with a loss at the Philadelphia Eagles. Already battling an injured thumb, Rodgers suffered injured ribs in that game and was unable to finish.

Given the team’s record and long-shot playoff chances at the moment, the Packers could have gone to Love to get him some experience and take a look into their potential future. Instead, they chose to trot out an injured Rodgers a week later and for the rest of the season.

If a healthy Love wasn’t better than a twice-injured Rodgers at the moment, do the Packers really have faith in Love for the upcoming moments?

“As long as we’re in it, we’re going to play the guy that gave us the best chance to win those games,” Gutekunst said. “It certainly wasn’t looking good, but I did feel if the guys could come together and just get something started then we’d have a chance to get back in it. … I think as long as we have an opportunity to keep winning games and keep moving forward and get in the playoffs, we’re always going to make the decision to go out and win the game.”

The Atlanta Falcons’ Desmond Ridder, who started the last four games of the season and closed with back-to-back wins, beat out Love and the 49ers’ Trey Lance for the 32nd and final spot.

“All three walk into 2023 with huge question marks surrounding their games and futures,” Cassel wrote.

Click here for the full rankings and rundown, including where Rodgers ranks among his NFC North peers.

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