(The sports world has turned its attention to the NFL Draft. That means we have to figure out which players the Patriots might be taking in what promises to be one of the most important drafts in the Pats’ recent history. Each day until the Draft kicks off on April 23 we will give you some names that the Patriots might be calling.)
Name: Jordan Love
School: Utah State
Position: Quarterback
Why the Patriots might draft him: With Tom Brady taking his aging talents to Tampa Bay, New England is in the market for a starting quarterback for the first time in nearly three decades. Love may be a bit of a project, but there is no question he has physical potential and upside.
What is he good at: Love has the size (6-4, 224), athletic ability (4.74 40) and arm strength that NFL teams lust after at the quarterback position. He was a three-year college starter, but his production was very much hindered by a coaching change in 2019 that saw him struggle in a new offensive scheme with new personnel to the tune of 17 interceptions compared to 20 touchdowns. Love has the ability to make plays and off-platform throws in the mold of Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes. So there is that.
Read: Making the case for Jordan Love to the Patriots at No. 23
And then there is this: Love’s father, police officer Orbin Love, committed suicide when the quarterback was just 14 years old. That tragedy, which the family attributes to an extreme reaction from a change in blood pressure medication, had the younger Love considering giving up the sport of football as a high school sophomore. Now, Love says, “In my life, I’ve had to face some real stuff. I just look at is as – football is what I love to play. It’s fun. It’s my passion. All that stuff comes easy for me, and I never let a moment of football get bigger than what I’ve had to face in my actual life.”
Twitter: @jordan3love