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Jordan and Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers NFL Draft prospect profile: QB Jordan Rodgers
Player Information:
Jordan Rodgers, QB Vanderbilt
6-1, 212 pounds
Hometown: Chico, CA
NFL Combine:
Not invited
News and Notes:
Based on the comments from my previous draft posts, I’d like to point out that this is a prospect profile, not a draft prediction. I haven’t analyzed a player who I think the Packers will take at 26 and that trend is going to continue; in fact I’m not advocating one way or the other that the Packers should draft/sign Jordan Rodgers at all. With that being said, Jordan Rodgers is an interesting prospect because he’s almost a reflection of what Aaron Rodgers’ story might have been had it not gone as well; Jordan also started at Butte Community College, where he lead the team to it’s first undefeated season in his second year. He then transfered to a big name football program (Vanderbilt) but ended up redshirting his freshmen year with a shoulder injury. From there he rode the bench until injuries struck and ended up as the starter, again much like his brother. However, it took Jordan two years to transfer out of JUCO, then lost a year after getting a medical redshirt and only ended up as the legitimate starter in his senior year. All in all, Jordan Rodgers will begin his NFL career at 25 while his older brother was only 21, which makes Aaron’s story all that more incredible. It’s hard to imagine how different Aaron Rodger’s story would be if Jeff Tedford hadn’t come up to Chico to scout a tight end or if Rodgers hadn’t had the chance to start as a junior, but in fact that story might be Jordan Rodgers.
What they’re saying about him:
- CBSSports.com: “Short, but otherwise possesses a reasonably stout and athletic build for the quarterback position. Boasts the same quick-strike release that has helped his brother compensate for his lack of elite size (6020, 223 at 2007 Combine). Appears to have just average arm strength, overall, but possesses impressive velocity on short and intermediate throws, as the ball zips out of his hand.”
Video:
Video Analysis:
- Good ball carriage, looks to have copied Aaron’s NFL carriage (luckily not his college carriage, which was criticized coming into the NFL).
- Displays good touch, accuracy and great velocity on short and intermediate throws. Lacks the arm to really threaten defenses deep, ball seems to float on long passes, which gives defense more time to bat/intercept the ball.
- Jordan might actually be a little faster than Aaron and displays the same ability to scramble for yards, also being in a spread/option offense had lead to more designed runs for Jordan as well, which is the current craze in the NFL
- Possess similar ability to roll out and throw accurately on the move like his brother, even when going against his body momentum. Also keeps his head up while scrambling for more “creative” passes.
- Appeared to only read half the field, though that might have more to do with Vanderbilt’s offensive scheme than actual ability. Does show the ability to go through his progressions during rollout and play action pass plays.
- Definitely on the shorter side, couple with low throwing velocity on deep passes means lots of batted balls. However shorter quarterbacks like Aaron, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson have shown that lack of height can be compensated for.
- Displays the grit and tenacity to get the first down when running and stand tall in the pocket, however will have to get down and get rid of the ball quicker in the NFL or risk injury and turnovers.
If drafted by the Packers
So should the Packers consider drafting Jordan Rodgers? It’s a very interesting question and something I’m sure the Packers front office is debating. The only recent comparison I can think of is when Jay Palmer was the backup for his older brother Carson with the Bengals, but that turned out pretty disastrously when Carson decided to hold out and Jay was forced into a lame duck situation as the starting quarterback.
On one hand having Jordan as the Packer’s backup quarterback is favorable since Jordan’s game is very similar to Aaron’s. There’s really nothing that Aaron can do that Jordan can’t, albeit at a lower proficiency. This is favorable since play calling and offensive scheme can remain the same in the event that Aaron gets hurt; the obvious example of where this was a problem was with Brady Quinn, a right-handed traditional drop back passer, backing up left-handed, option/spread/throwing H-back Tim Tebow for the Broncos in 2011 (It’s believed the Broncos had a completely different offense set up for Quinn in the event that Tebow was injured). On a more personal note, since Jordan and Aaron are brothers they also likely have similar voices when it comes to tonation, inflection and cadence, all of which can make the transition easier for the rest of the offense. Furthermore, Jordan’s skill set translates well as a backup, he isn’t going to stretch the field or really be the catalyst for many plays, but he can keep the offense on schedule with the short and intermediate passing game as well as create some creases scrambling that would keep defenses honest.
On the other hand, Jordan gets thrust into a situation where he can basically do nothing but fail as there’s almost no chance that Jordan will ever surpass Aaron and he would have to deal with that pressure constantly. Questions about favoritism will have to be addressed from both the Packers coaching staff and Aaron himself. Also questions arise if Jordan were ever to be cut/traded; it would be best not to piss off the face of the franchise, and cutting his little brother might be one of those things that even normally composed Aaron might not take well. Most importantly, while they do have very similar skill sets, the Packers have to be cognizant that Jordan is a different person and at a different point in his development and there are things Jordan should not be asked to do that Aaron regularly does; the Packers also risk stunting Jordan’s development if they force Jordan to try to imitate Aaron too much.
Overall, I’m torn between the advantages/disadvantages of having two brothers on the same team. If the brothers and the team can come to some peaceful coexistence then Jordan would be a near perfect candidate to back-up his older brother as the transition between the two quarterbacks would likely be as minimal as possible. However in the real world, the pressure of playing with his superstar older brother as well as the politics of the NFL and locker room likely make signing Jordan Rodgers too big of a risk for the Packers; there would be plenty of other quarterbacks out there with just as much up-side but considerably less potential baggage.
With all that being said, what do you think, should the Packers draft/sign Jordan Rodgers?
——————Thomas Hobbes is a staff writer for Jersey Al’s AllGreenBayPackers.com.
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I love nepotism. We don’t have a serious backup up now, so it’s a way to bring someone in on the cheap. AR might even fund his salary. 🙂
Right, that’s the whole point, signing Jordan Rodgers comes with this huge potential of baggage simply because his last name is Rodgers, so the question becomes is he worth the risk?
No…
I really hope we draft this kid
Would you rather have him or Graham Harrell? How about Matt Flynn?
Flynn hands down, no question about it. Harrell is holding the backup job while Coleman progresses nothing more. Sooner Harrell is gone the happier I’ll be. If Jordan ends up in GB, he would have enormous pressure. I think he would break under the weight of it. Give him a chance to go somewhere where the pressure wouldn’t be nearly as high.
Well the pressure may too great for Jordan regardless of what NFL team he ultimately ends up being, no matter where he goes he is always going to be compared to Aaron (hell, even Eli is still compared negatively to Peyton, even though Eli has more Super Bowl wins and it a great quarterback in his own right). Would it be even more intense in GB? Probably, but that’s something he’s going to have to face anywhere.
Great writing/post by Thomas Hobbes and Jersey Al via Green Bay Packers.com. First I am a big believer in types that time forgets, aka: Doug Flute. Same diagnostic with the long air balls that got picked. Draft Rodgers. Train him. Makes sense as a media relations (Payton’s place in the NFL, great for the game, 2-1 Eli has two rings, Payton has one)standpoint. Mentoring is something few get in life, Packers have a great opportunity because all things are possible for those who are willing to do the impossible; signing a little brother and make him the luckiest story in the NFL? Com’on man! Invest in leadership, I love it. Farve sightings already in the news. Com’on man! This will be the best year in two for the Packers, Ted Thompson and McCarthy need that magic and don’t even think about swaying the other way because we support each other right, as a team? Farve could even mentor Jordon with just youtube, but when this all get’s the light of day, Green Bay will be enshrined in brotherhood like the days of thunder…the days of men of great renown like Bart Starr (6′-1 193 lbs. Alabama Crimson Tide), Hornung, Nitschke Thurston, Davis. 2013 with Farves’ name and number retired and back in the fold, Jordon should be pulled in if Jolly get’s his dues. Rodgers and Rodgers it just doesn’t get any better then being exposed to the real thing in Green Bay in such a transformative year.
I’m a little confused, do you really want Jordan on the team or are you just being sarcastic? I would say while the NFL loves a good story, the Packers are rather story adverse, they’d rather have some guy you’ve never heard of instead of the come-back/try hard/something from nothing guy
There isn’t anything Aaron can do that Jordan can’t? Hardly… How about throwing a 60 yd dime? How bout a 50 yd dime? Jordan doesnt have nearly the arm that big brother has. He is also lacking in field vision according to reports, something Aaron has in abundance. I wouldn’t put Jordan in the position of having to be the backup to his brother. The pressure would be enormous and I don’t think he is nearly tough enough to handle that. He might be able to develop and have a chance to compete for a starting job at some point. And McCarthy is as good a QB guru as there is, but I just wouldn’t put Jordan in position of having to live up to Aarons standards. Let another QB guru work w/ him where the pressure wouldn’t be so overwhelming.
Jordan can probably throw 50 on a quarter or half dollar 😀 I said he basically do anything that his brother can albeit at a lower proficiency at the moment. Keep in mind Aaron’s arm wasn’t considered elite when he was drafted (he improved it as a backup) As for field vision I have no idea and it’s heavily predicated on what scheme Vanderbilt ran, if he was only asked to look at his primary and checkdown, is it his fault that he isn’t reading the whole field?
Even more ridiculous then those who were supporting the draft of Casey Matthews.
Absolutely no upside for the siblings or the team.
One other way to think about it would be: if his name was Jordan Ronalds, do you think the Packers should sign him?
But it isn’t…and lets keep the profile or prospecting to that.
No ‘IF’s..just facts’.
If he’s available as a UFA take a shot at him, but if there’s nothing there, cut or trade him early so he can try catch on with someone else.
AR is pragmatic and intelligent enough to understand that his lil bro might get cut, but the upside of the chance to tutor and mentor him would waaaay outweigh any of the downside.
Pragmatism only takes you so far, especially when it comes to family. If Rodgers was really as hurt as reports are rumoring about losing Charles Woodson, imagine his own brother getting cut?
I still think signing a sibling to a team such as the Packers will not do that much harm. We are a different team altogether. Even our attitude and approach to the game is different than any other team out there. We are a family team. Why would Aaron be mad at the “business” side of things if it doesn’t work out for Jordan? Jordan gets cut and he’ll be picked up by someone else so he still gets to stay in the league. You know, the thing he has been working so hard to do?! Why wouldn’t Aaron be happy for that. That being said, Aaron has expressed his desire to keep certain players and the Pack still cut them. Did Aaron play any worse because of that? No. He’s a competitor. And you all know what that translate to. Everyone in the league understands that this is just a business, and things happen in business. If we were to run this business with emotion, we wouldn’t get very far. You all know that. C’mon Man. It has been debated into the ground. Aaron would more than help his brother succeed. That’s what I would do for my brother. I want them to succeed, just as much as they do. They’re my family. Who doesn’t want their family to succeed? If not, you’re not putting the fun in dysfunction. Give him a shot and see where it goes. Worst case scenerio, we wasted time developing Jordan instead of Graham. YEA, big loss there! And trying to compare him to Aaron now makes no sense at all. Jordan has never played a snap in the NFL. Aaron has. So the comparison will have to wait until Jordan gets drafted, develops and plays a few games in the NFL before anyone can say anything. And then to have him in MM’s quarterback school… Look out! Now stand back and look at that picture I just painted for you, Masterpiece.