What Would it Take to Change Your Mind on Jordan Love?

Jordan Love had a great first preseason game.

Or maybe he had a really terrible one.

As with anything to do with the 2020 first-round pick, opinions vary widely on his performance. It’s true that he had some very good plays — his touchdown to Danny Davis was as good a throw as we’ve seen him make thus far. It’s true that some of the things that went down last Friday were out of his control — Tyler Davis and Romeo Doubs did him no favors on two of his interceptions. But it’s also true that some of the things he did weren’t great — his accuracy in the short passing game was concerning.

There’s a lot we simply don’t know about Jordan Love, and trying to put together an opinion on him is almost impossible because of the incredible amount of complicated factors that go into evaluating his play. Just look at the list above!

That’s why on top of asking ourselves how he’s playing, I think we need to ask another important question: what would it take to change our minds?

It’s hard to change your mind, but being able to do so is crucial for any serious thinker. In light of new evidence, it’s important that we’re able to re-evaluate previously held positions and adopt new ones. That’s how we grow as people, to say nothing of how we change as football fans.

And in the case of Jordan Love, it’s important to think about what it would take to change your mind.

Most of the discourse around Love amounts to sectarian violence: two calcified schools of thought shouting things at each other. And sooner or later, one of them is going to be proven right. Someday we’re going to know for sure whether or not Love is a starting-caliber NFL quarterback. But right now we don’t, and the question for people in both groups should be devoted to evidence. Specifically, what evidence would it take to change your mind on Love as a player?

For those who believe he’s already a certified bust, what would move you off that position? Would a truly excellent preseason performance do it? If not one, would two? Would winning a game as a starter in the regular season make a difference to you? How well would he have to play and for how long?

For people who think he’s already good and getting better, when would you have to admit he’s not? How many bad games would it take? Would it take a full season? Eight games? Four? Would a public vote of no confidence from the head coach make you reconsider? Would you let go of “Jordan Love, future starting quarterback” if he was traded, or would you still say he hadn’t gotten a fair shake?

I don’t have an answer to any of these questions, nor to the big one itself. I don’t know exactly what it would take to get me to change my mind about Love. But as he continues to develop, it’s important to be open to change.