Aaron Rodgers Should Take Notes on Alex Smith's Relationship With Patrick Mahomes in How to Deal With Jordan Love

Aaron Rodgers has been put in a very tough situation, to say the least. After coming just one game short of the Super Bowl, the two-time MVP just watched the Green Bay Packers draft his future replacement, Jordan Love, with the No. 26 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Although a veteran quarterback in his own right, Rodgers could learn a lot from Alex Smith.

After a Pro Bowl season in 2016, former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith saw his team take QB Patrick Mahomes with the No.10 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Instead of giving Mahomes the cold shoulder as he was groomed to become the Chiefs' future QB, Smith nurtured his growth.

Alex Smith & Patrick Mahomes were teammates for 1 season, but developed a great relationship. Spending time with each other’s families.Smith led the NFL in passer rating while grooming Mahomes to replace him. 1 of the 1st texts Mahomes got after the Super Bowl was from Alex Smith
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) May 2, 2020

Most quarterbacks in Smith and Rodgers' situation resist passing the torch, and instead attempt to compete to protect their own role. Rodgers learned this first hand when he was drafted and spent three years behind Brett Favre.

Smith's ability to put up another Pro Bowl season in 2017 while helping nurture the growth of Patrick Mahomes behind him is a unique show of maturity and leadership.

In 2019, Mahomes won Super Bowl MVP after leading the Chiefs to a win over the San Francisco 49ers. Even after transcending to a level higher than Smith has reached in his career, Mahomes credits his impact on his growth and the team's culture.

Patrick Mahomes: Alex Smith wasn't there, but he was part of win https://t.co/lF4wx560Wv
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 4, 2020

That type of a powerful relationship is what Packers fans can only hope will grow between Rodgers and Love.