Aaron Rodgers Says He Has 'Zero Bitterness' About Packers Drafting Jordan Love

Ahead of the Green Bay Packers' NFC divisional-round playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, quarterback Aaron Rodgers insisted he is in a good place regarding the team's decision to trade up for quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.

According to NFL.com's Michael Silver, Rodgers said:

"There are things that are out of my control, and I understand that, and I appreciate it. I'm not fighting against it, and I haven't harbored any angst or frustration with anybody in the organization. I'm really content with where I'm at, and I feel like it's helped me to be very clear-minded all year.

"I think it's no surprise that I've been able to play so well, because there haven't been those distractions. I haven't been thinking about next year. I haven't been thinking about decisions that need to be made. I've just been enjoying the little things, been enjoying the coaches in the room, been enjoying my teammates—and the other stuff will take care of itself. I'm not worried about it, and I harbor actually zero bitterness about it. And that's just allowed me to have a really calm and genuine peace about the situation."

Despite his lofty draft status as the No. 26 overall pick, Love didn't take a single snap this season with Rodgers putting up MVP-caliber numbers.

Rodgers had one of the best seasons of his career this year. He completed an NFL-best 70.7 percent of his passes for 4,299 yards, a career-high 48 touchdowns and only five interceptions.

He also led the Packers to a 13-3 record and the top seed in the NFC, making him the odds-on favorite to win his third career NFL MVP award.

The Love pick raised some eyebrows since the popular sentiment during the offseason was that Rodgers needed more weapons around him aside from wide receiver Davante Adams and running back Aaron Jones.

Aside from taking running back AJ Dillon in the second round, the Packers didn't give Rodgers much in terms of new weapons. Instead, he worked with what he had and helped guide Adams, tight end Robert Tonyan and wide receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard to career years.

Love's entry into the league isn't unlike that of Rodgers, who sat behind Brett Favre and learned for three years before becoming the starter.

Rodgers will be 40 years old three years from now, so perhaps the same thing will happen to Love. Although given how well Rodgers played this season, he may still be one of the best in the business in three years.

It might be a coincidence that Rodgers raised his level of play so much this season compared to last, or it could be a case of him feeling more comfortable in his second year in head coach Matt LaFleur's offense.

Then again, Rodgers might have gone from 4,002 yards and 26 touchdowns last season to what he did this season because the Packers lit a fire underneath him by taking his potential replacement so early in the draft.

If Love pick doesn't work out for the Packers and they end up having to trade him, it may still prove worthwhile if it contributes to Rodgers leading the Packers to a Super Bowl win this season or in subsequent years.

Rodgers will look to take a big step toward his second career Super Bowl victory when he and Packers host the Rams on Saturday at 4:35 p.m. ET.