Although the rules leading up to the virtual draft make it more difficult to determine teams’ interest in prospects, franchises are doing their homework in different ways. And several teams are doing extensive research on Jordan Love.
The Utah State-developed quarterback prospect has drawn interest from teams with varying levels of quarterback needs. Among the teams doing homework on Love: the Saints, Patriots and Packers, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. The Dolphins, Chargers and Redskins are also examining the intriguing passer.
With Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert expected to be the first three quarterbacks drafted, that places Love in an interesting spot. Following the Bengals, Dolphins and Bolts in the top six, there are not many teams with an immediate quarterback need. The Patriots, though, do qualify. Picking at No. 23, the Pats have not used a first-round pick on a quarterback since Drew Bledsoe 27 years ago and last picked one in Round 2 in 2014 (Jimmy Garoppolo). The Pats are believed to be prepared to give Jarrett Stidham a genuine shot to succeed Tom Brady, but it certainly would not surprise if they either drafted a quarterback early or signed one of the high-profile free agents.
Some scouts view Love as the draft’s best pure thrower, but Fowler adds others see him as a Day 2 pick. He finished last season with a 20-17 TD-INT ratio, well off the prolific pace he set as a sophomore (32-6) in 2018. Texas Tech coach Matt Wells — the former Utah State head coach — said seven NFL HCs have contacted him about Love in the past five days, per Fowler.
The Saints and Packers have been previously linked to the 6-foot-4 passer and have spoken with him leading up to the draft. New Orleans placed a first-round tender on Taysom Hill, but the former UDFA has 13 career pass attempts and will soon turn 30. The Packers have Aaron Rodgers under contract through 2023, and the 36-year-old star has indicated he wants to play into his 40s.
The Dolphins got in a meeting with Love before the NFL nixed the in-person components of the pre-draft process due to COVID-19. While Miami has been most closely connected to Tagovailoa, the organization has been mentioned as being interested in Love going back to February. In addition to their No. 5 overall pick, the Dolphins hold picks 18 and 26 in this draft.
I love Love. Would love for Love to be a Patriot. Knowing Bill B and Brady’s love affair , I think Bill would also love to have Love…. that be freakin lovely.
terribly overrated
Agreed
After getting arrested I thought he was going to be held out of the bowl game. But he played to showcase himself and was out played by Dustin Crum of Kent State.
Great insight! I was thinking the same thing. Krum was great in that game and Love could not beat a MAC team.
I would be incredibly surprised if they sign a big free agent
Me too because they have zero cap room.
Smoke. Pats trade back or take a LB.
Bill would never draft a guy in the first who was known for “arm talent”. Precise and calculating is more Bill’s speed. O-Line in the first for the Pats this year.
I’d be willing to guarantee that Jake Fromm will be picked by the Patriots.
They’ll use the first round to go BPA or trade back like they always do, they’ll take one of the many good receivers in the second round, and then they’ll get Fromm in the third.
Please no! Jake Fromm is going to wash out of the NFL by year 3; his arm is a wet noodle. I really hope NE doesn’t even have him on their board. Would much rather see them take Jalen Hurts in Round 3 over Fromm. Heck, even the kid from FIU over him.
I’m not saying that Fromm is necessarily better than them. I’m just saying he looks like the epitome of a Belichick quarterback.
Oh god no packers…..please don’t….take a WR in the first round. We have zero use for a qb.
First round? Surely you realize he’s not going in the first round.
Jordan Love is overrated. He’s the next Jameis Winston.
Jalen Hurts is a much better prospect as a back up turn start in a couple years. He should be who rams with veteran QBs are looking at
Shut up. You know nothing about FB. Hurts is awful.
Now, if Hurts falls to my Raiders with their 1st #3, I’d draft him with no hesitation.
Perhaps someone more educated in college football can help me out.
I don’t follow CFB at all, but with all the talk of Love, Tua, Burrow, Herbert, etc. what I haven’t heard anything about is on Anthony Gordon.
The kid threw just under what Burrow had, tossed 48 TDs and completed over 70% of his passes.
I saw that WSU had a poor record, is this why the kid hasn’t gotten any attention?
TBH, this is the type of QB that I can see becoming a Patriot.
Bump
He reminds me of Tyree Jackson from last year that everyone was trying to hype up. But in the end… he’s terrible
I was wondering the same. Is this all a well-organized marketing campaign by his agent? Sometimes QBs are a product of their system, but I see no numbers to support Love. He played Boise ST., and did ‘okay’, and played LSU and got killed.
And he put up some really mediocre numbers against really mediocre teams. Hurts has some flaws, but still put up numbers against everyone, including LSU.
Zach Baum….. LB. Draft him
BB should not be in the draft room. I’m sure he has a list of every Def. Line player 200 deep. Keep him away from WR, Def. Backs and RB choices.
Love is the next Black QB hype job. James Morgan out of FIU is better than Love.
http://www.castefootball.us – we root for white athletes and call out the unfair stigmas around them. I have been following the draft for 16 years now – I know the score. The NFL will not allow a draft to be more than 25% white in any given year. This year may be one of the worst – could top the anti-white 2015 draft that has been riddled with busts including the two surefire franchise QBs – Mariota and Winston. Wake up people!
I wonder who you are voting for in November… not.