Packers warned against signing a large contract extension for quarterback Jordan Love.
There is little doubt that Jordan Love was one of the best quarterbacks down the stretch last year, but does a half-season and a two-game playoff run assure the Green Bay Packers that they have a player deserving of a large contract?
That is the topic the team must address this offseason, as Love is under contract until 2024 on a deal that may pay him up to $22.5 million next year but guarantees him only $13.5 million, according to Spotrac.
According to a short summary by Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report on Thursday, March 28, the Packers should wait another full season before making any major financial decisions about their quarterback.
“Make Jordan Love prove it for one more full season,” Gagnon wrote.
The Packers will discuss a new deal for Jordan Love this summer.
While Gagnon believes Green Bay should wait and see with Love, the front office appears to differ.
In February, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo reported that the Packers plan to discuss extending Love on a “fair-market” deal at some point this summer.
“The Packers are expected to be willing to discuss a new, fair-market deal for Love that pays him like a true starter,” they reported. “QB deals often happen in June or before the start of training camp, and that timeline makes sense. Still just 25 years old, Love is now in line for the first big-time payday of his career.”
What “fair market” means is a matter of debate, though any answer is likely to approach $50 million annually. Four quarterbacks already earn at least that much in annual average value on their current contracts, according to Over The Cap, and more signal-callers in — or approaching — their primes will join that group as they come up for new deals and the NFL salary cap continues to rise.
Spotrac estimates Love’s market value at $44.8 million a year over a new four-year contract, totaling nearly $180 million. And that estimate may out to be low.
Jordan Love is among the best quarterbacks in the NFL during the 2023 season.
Green Bay may be wiser to sign Love to an extension now, since another strong season for the quarterback may boost his annual salary even higher.
Love started all 17 regular-season contests in his first year as QB1 with the Packers after spending three campaigns on the sideline learning behind four-time MVP and future Hall of Fame inductee Aaron Rodgers. The time spent learning clearly paid off for Love, who got off to a quick start over the first three games, tallying 7 TDs to just 1 INT.
He slowed down in the middle of the season, as Green Bay struggled in terms of wins and losses. The Packers were 3-6 after losing four in a row and five of six games starting in Week 4.
Love subsequently established himself as an NFL quarterback, leading the Packers to a 6-2 record and the NFC’s final playoff spot. Love threw just one interception in the final eight regular-season games before leading Green Bay to a road victory over the Dallas Cowboys during Super Wildcard weekend.
The team fell just short against the San Francisco 49ers in the Bay Area the following weekend, losing by just 3 points after leading for most of the contest.
Love finished the regular season with 4,159 passing yards, 32 TDs and 11 INTs. He also rushed the football for 247 yards and 4 scores.
Be the first to comment