Jordan Love Poised for Contract Extension Talks with Packers
As the Green Bay Packers gear up for another season, all eyes are on starting quarterback Jordan Love, who is expected to enter into significant contract extension discussions with the team. Love's impressive performance has not only led the storied franchise to the playoffs but also earned him the title of "Breakout Player of The Year" for the 2023 NFL season.
The young quarterback, who was drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Packers, signed a two-year deal in May 2020. He subsequently agreed to a one-year extension in May 2023, worth $22.5 million. With his current contract set to last through 2024 and an annual salary of $11 million, negotiations could see Love secure a much more lucrative deal beyond that time frame.
A Look at the Numbers
To be counted among the top-10 quarterbacks in terms of average salary, an additional $40 million per year would need to be tabled. If the Packers aim to place Love within the top five highest-paid quarterbacks, they might have to consider a staggering figure of $49 million annually or even higher.
Love has certainly made a strong case for such an investment. In the 2023 season, he threw for 32 touchdown passes and amassed over 4,000 passing yards. Achieving such milestones as a first-year starter places him in an elite category—only the third to reach these benchmarks. His performance has been consistently high-caliber, with Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranking him 12th overall for the season.
From Week 9 onward, Love showcased his deep-threat capability with 25 "big-time throws," a statistic second only to Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys. Moreover, his touchdown-to-interception ratio in this period was stellar, with 21 touchdowns and a mere three interceptions. This contributed significantly to the Packers' strong finish to the regular season, going 6-2 and clinching a playoff berth as the No. 7 seed.
Playoff Performance and Incentives
In the postseason, Love continued to shine, particularly in a commanding performance against the Cowboys where he threw three touchdown passes and achieved a near-perfect passer rating. Although the Packers' playoff run was halted by a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round, Love's playoff win and top-10 finish in passing touchdowns have met several of the incentives laid out in his contract.
Contractual Implications and Expectations
Despite the anticipation surrounding his future with the Packers, official signing of an extension cannot take place until May, adhering to the one-year wait time since his last contract signing. Noted NFL insider Ian Rapoport has indicated that Love's representation and the Packers are expected to address his contract as he enters the final year of his current deal.
Rapoport also suggests that a substantial contract extension is on the horizon for Love, especially if his playoff performances continue to impress. "This coming spring, do not be surprised if he does get that massive, franchise quarterback-type contract extension," stated Rapoport. "And the further he goes in the playoffs, the richer he is going to be."
Conclusion
With the Packers and Love's representatives poised to discuss his contract, the stage is set for what could be one of the most significant financial commitments the franchise has made to a player in recent years. Love's trajectory seems to point upwards, and with a potential new contract, Green Bay would be expressing its confidence in him as the cornerstone of the team for years to come. Fans, analysts, and the organization alike will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of these pivotal negotiations.