The Green Bay Packers are preparing for a new era with Jordan Love at quarterback - and they want to give him as much help as possible.
The Packers are set to move on from star man Aaron Rodgers, who has publicly demanded a trade to the New York Jets which is still being finalised. The state of the Packers' wide receiving group has been a source of much criticism over the past couple of seasons and has contributed to Rodgers' frustrations.
However, head coach Matt LaFleur has already confirmed he is looking at adding some "veteran leadership" to the receiving corps in a move that would undoubtedly be designed to help Love as he steps into the starting role. None of the five remaining receivers at the franchise - Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure, Jeff Cotton or Bo Melton - has played more than 14 NFL games.
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Speaking at the Annual League Meeting last week, LaFleur said via ESPN : "We're going to have to add some bodies to. What do we got, like five guys on the roster right now?"
"Well, I think some veteran leadership would be nice. Although I think guys like Allen (Lazard) and Randall (Cobb) did such a great job last year kind of taking those guys under their wing and showing them the ropes and the expectations and the practice habits that you need to have to go out there and play at a high level.
"But there's going to be a lot of growth with those two guys, certainly Romeo and Christian. And then you've got Samori Toure and we've got a small glimpse of Bo Melton last year."
LaFleur talked up Romeo Doubs with comparisons to previous star wideout Davante Adams, who was never really replaced after being traded to the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of last season.
"I don't know if Doubs] ever got back to what we had seen early in the year, but I expect to see that when he comes back," LaFleur said. "I want to temper this comparison here, but he's got some [Davante] Adams-type movement skills in him.
"Now he's got to learn when to use and how to harness that. I don't think there's a route he won't be able to run. We just have to give him enough reps where he can continue his progression."
With Allen Lazard heading to the New York Jets, where he hopes to be reunited with Rodgers, the Packers will hope to give Love more to work with at wide receiver before he becomes QB1. And he steps into the role with the blessing of Rodgers, who backed him to be a hit during the bombshell interview on the Pat McAfee Show in which he confirmed his intentions to be traded.
"They want to on. And now, so do I," Rodgers said. "They don't want me to come back. They want to move on with Jordan. And that's awesome, and Jordan's going to be a great player.
"He's a f****** great kid, he had a really good year this year, he's getting better. He's got a bright future in front of him. They've got a bright young team."
Whilst Rodgers insists the Packers are a young team with plenty of talent, there's no doubt Love's success will depend on the weapons they are able to provide around him entering the beginning of a new era at Lambeau Field without No.12.
LaFleur also told fans to temper their expectations on Love as he replaces Rodgers at the helm.
"It is what it is," the head coach said of Rodgers' split from the franchise, before adding: "And at the same time, we're excited about Jordan and how he's been able to progress as a quarterback, how he's matured as a man.
"It's going to be a different role for him, certainly, and I think we all have to kind of temper our expectations for him. It's different when you're going into a game versus when you're starting a game. It's going to be a process, but it's gonna be exciting for him, for us.
"I don't think any quarterback can truly do it on their own in this league. So it's going to be everybody rallying around him and trying to be at the best of their ability so that he can go out there and perform as good as he possibly can."
