Terry Fontenot has stated multiple times that not all quarterbacks are first overall picks. Championship caliber signal callers come in all fashions. One of the ways the Falcons can find their succession plan to Matt Ryan is by acquiring a quarterback via trade.
With Aaron Rodgers set to return to the Packers, the media’s spotlight has shifted to backup Jordan Love. On Tuesday morning, Pat McAfee reported the back-to-back reigning NFL MVP will return to Green Bay for the 2022 season. The details of the contract have yet to be made public, but there are reports it’s a multi-year deal, which casts uncertainty around Love’s future.
A former first-round pick by Green Bay in 2020, Love has only taken 131 snaps in two years behind Rodgers. With two years left on his rookie deal, quarterback-needy teams around the league might be lining up to see if Love is available.
There hasn’t been any trade discussion, and the Packers would create little-to-no cap space by getting Love’s contract off the books. However, there is such a precedent for this type of situation.
Years ago, the Patriots dealt then-backup Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers for a second-round pick at the 2017 NFL trade deadline. Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy reported a few scouts told him that the Packers might be able to garner a second-round pick for Love, which, in my eyes, would be something Terry Fontenot would have to consider.
The Falcons organization actually has a history with this sort of trade too. Back in 2007, Atlanta moved up two picks in the first round and got two second-round picks in exchange for Matt Schaub.
The Falcons would obviously have to do their due diligence on Love, which might be hard given his limited action in the NFL. Even the one game he did start this past year against the Chiefs wouldn’t be a great litmus test. The jury is still out on what he can become.
The reality is the Packers aren’t in a position where they have to trade Love, and the Falcons probably wouldn’t be interested in such a trade anyways. Still, if Fontenot is a man of his word (which he’s shown time and time again to be), the front office will be prepared if the situation arises.
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