2020 NFL Draft: ranking the best and most likely outcomes for Jordan Love
Most likely landing spots for Jordan Love
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are likely to spend a draft pick on a quarterback. Entering the 2020 season, the team has one year, unproven starter Gardner Minshew pegged to be the starting quarterback. And, with no offseason program likely to occur, Minshew will likely get another shot as the team’s lead signal caller.
Still, after conning the Chicago Bears in to trading for former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles this offseason, the Jaguars need to bring in at least some competition for Minshew. Maybe that person is a veteran still on the free agent market after the draft. Or maybe that person is Jordan Love.
Love has all the makings of a future NFL starter. The lack of an offseason this year due to COVID-19 will force the Jaguars to be patient in integrating a rookie quarterback. The presence of a strong running attack with Leonard Fournette will help any young passer.
Love going to Jacksonville may mean he’s a starter by the end of 2020, and while that may not be the best case scenario, it could be a likely one.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers desire for a quarterback is not a well-kept secret heading into the NFL Draft. Undoubtedly veteran Tyrod Taylor will be the starter when the season kicks off, but after future Hall of Famer Phillip Rivers signed with the Colts this offseason, LA must begin looking for a quarterback of the future.
Maybe the Chargers get lucky and Justin Herbert falls into their laps at #6. It seems more likely that a team desperate for the Oregon product jumps LA to take the young quarterback, though (a team like the Raiders, or the Jaguars).
That may leave the Chargers with a choice of Love or taking a lower ranked quarterback like Jalen Hurts in the second round. I think the Chargers choose to take Love and not miss out even further, and that makes this a likely pairing post-draft.
1. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings may be a dark horse here but the team must start planning for life after Kirk Cousins. Cousins has been a fine, adequate, overpaid quarterback for the Vikings and has just signed an extension with the team. Even still, he’s got at most three seasons left with Minnesota and it seems unlikely the team extends him again. And, one thing we know about the NFL (see Foles deal), is that teams are often willing to trade for overpriced, mediocre veteran quarterbacks, so no one should be surprised if Cousins finds his way out of Minnesota before the end of his deal.
Jordan Love could be an ideal quarterback of the future for the Vikings. Cousins is good enough to show Love the ropes; but also not likely so good that he’s unwilling to be helpful. And, the Vikings are probably more willing than some to let Love transcend Cousins in due time, which may give him the ability to start in year two or the middle of year two if he progresses.
Love would benefit from having a better teacher in the long run; but the Vikings may make the most sense as a landing spot for the rookie.