It wasn’t the touchdown itself that caught everyone’s attention—it was the subtle glance. After torching the Eagles for a 70-yard score in the season opener, Jordan Love didn’t celebrate wildly. He simply turned to Jayden Reed, nodded, and smirked. No words needed. It was a shared language, one forged in late-night film sessions, training camp reps, and quiet belief. But that bond—the kind quarterbacks cling to—was suddenly under scrutiny when the Packers used two premium picks on wide receivers. Reed noticed. And so did Love.

By the time Jayden Reed entered the NFL in 2023, Jordan Love had already waited three long seasons for his shot. Their timelines didn’t perfectly align, but their chemistry did. Two years into their partnership, the pair had evolved into one of the more underrated QB-WR duos in the NFC North—highlighted by deep-ball connections and growing trust. But when the Packers invested heavily in receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft, including Texas standout Matthew Golden in the first round (23rd overall) and TCU’s Savion Williams in the third (87th overall), eyebrows were raised. Was the team already plotting a WR1 succession plan?

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, general manager Brian Gutekunst took quick action to ease the tension. Last week, he met with Jayden Reed’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to deliver a clear message: Reed remains the team’s WR1. It wasn’t just a vote of confidence in Reed. It was a strategic signal to Jordan Love—his top target is still his top guy.

“He’s a phenomenal player, and obviously I think he’s going to have a bigger role this year,” Love had said last June, backing his young receiver. Reed made good on that belief. Despite starting fewer games in 2024, he raised his total receiving yards from 793 to 857 and upped his yards per reception from 12.4 to 15.6.

Jayden Reed’s Stats:

2023: 16 games (13 starts), 64 receptions, 793 yards, 8 TDs

2024: 17 games (10 starts), 55 receptions, 857 yards, 6 TDs

Reed’s rapport with Love wasn’t just evident on stat sheets. After a dominant Week 6 win last season over the Cardinals, Reed said, “He was very dynamic today. He did a great job today. I didn’t even know, nine different people caught a pass today. So you know he just do a great job of finding the right guy to get the ball to.”

With the GM’s public assurance, the duo can stay locked in as the centerpiece of the Packers’ offense. That stability is crucial—especially with other parts of the roster still in flux.

Packers release Jordan Love’s protector

One of those moving parts is the offensive line. On May 12, the Packers released offensive guard Marquis Hayes, who had been brought in late last season to shore up depth. Originally drafted by the Cardinals in 2022 (7th round, 257th overall), Hayes had a reputation as a bruiser. Then-head coach Kliff Kingsbury once praised him: “He plays like he’s trying to finish people every snap. He’s going after people… he’s moving bodies and he’s coming with a purpose.”

After an injury wiped out his rookie year, Hayes bounced between teams before landing on Green Bay’s practice squad in late 2024. With an eye on protecting Love better—who was sacked 30 times in 2023—the Packers brought Hayes in as a reinforcement. Head coach Matt LaFleur’s plan worked, reducing that sack total to just 14 in 2024. Still, the team decided to move on.

Instead, they’re turning to fresh blood—most notably NC State’s Anthony Belton, whom they drafted in the second round (54th overall). At 6-foot-6 and 336 pounds, Belton is a physically imposing tackle with clear upside. Whether he earns a starting role immediately is still up in the air, but the front office clearly sees him as part of the long-term protection plan for Love.

Between solidifying his top receiver and reworking his line, Jordan Love’s 2025 campaign is already being shaped by Gutekunst’s offseason decisions. The message is clear: the Packers are building around their quarterback. And now, it’s up to Love—and his trusted WR1—to deliver.