They didn't trade up to get a QB. They traded up for a WR. The WR's were taken, so they took the best player available on their board. At least, that was what was said then and seems to continually be skipped over. I see how that happens though. Did they draft Jordan Love? Yes. Did they trade up to that draft slot? Yes. The details are what people just don't care to think twice about.
Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool
I don't believe for a second that the trade was made official before the pick and they knew exactly whom was or wasn't available.
GMs have talked about teams pulling out of trades at the last moment, when a guy they didn't think would drop, did drop (which Gute said happened a lot in 2021 draft... both when they were looking at trade downs for their 1st round, and trying to trade up from their 3rd round), as well as teams pulling out of a trade when the guy they wanted was drafted and no longer available.
So my believe is that the Packers totally wanted to trade up... first for the WR the Vikings got, then for the WR the 49ers got.... but even after they were both taken off the draft board, the Packers still had a decision, to go through with the deal or not.
Gute went through with the trade knowing the board, and knowing probably whom he was going to select. The QB wasn't the position he was hoping for, but he thought he was the best potential left on the board. And if Love develops into just Derek Carr level of talent, then Gute might very well be correct! And Love has the raw potential to be better than Carr, though can he develop it? I've always thought he'd need 3 years to develop at least.
Also if we're trading Rodgers after the season, maybe we can pick up a veteran like Andy Dalton or Ryan Fitzpatrick on a short term cheap deal. To have a vet backup just in case... if Blake Bortles doesn't stick around... of course Bottles might stock around with his former offensive coordinator being our current offensive coordinator.