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For Love, it’s money.
After waiting for three seasons, Jordan Love is officially the Packers QB1. So far, it’s been something of a mixed bag for the first-year starter: Love has thrown seven touchdowns to just one interception through the first three games of the season, but has completed just 53 percent of his passes in that span.
Still, the Packers are out to a 2-1 start behind their promising quarterback, who likely hopes to be in Green Bay for as long as his predecessor. Earlier in the offseason, though, Love’s longevity with the franchise was something of a question.
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With Love’s effectiveness as an NFL-level passer something of a question, the Packers decided to get creative with a new deal for the fourth-year passer — and it was something of a team-friendly decision.
Here’s why:
Jordan Love contract details
Prior to the start of the season, the Packers declined Love’s fifth-year option, which would have kept him locked into Green Bay through the 2024 season. Instead, the Packers signed Love to a two-year extension worth $22.5 million, with $13.5 million guaranteed.
While that’s a nice chunk of change for a player who hasn’t played (or shown) much in the NFL, it was also a savvy business move by the Packers.
Green Bay GM Brian Gutekunst wasn’t keen on paying out Love’s fifth-year option, which would have been worth roughly the same as the contract that Love signed; had it been picked up, a fully guaranteed $22.562 million would have paid out over the next two seasons.
“It’s a lot of money for a guy who hasn’t played,” Gutekunst said in April. “But at the same time, obviously, we’re moving forward with him. So, we’ll figure that out by Tuesday (the fifth-year option deadline).”
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And figure it out, they did, signing Love to that two-year deal.
On its surface, its smart, savvy business move for the Packers: Green Bay gets a controllable QB contract for the next two seasons, with Love’s second year heavy on incentives to reach its full value.
On the flipside, it was a somewhat confusing decision for Love. While there’s still a world in which the Packers rip up Love’s contract and give him a more sizable extension following the 2023 season should he perform, Love didn’t exactly put himself in a position to bet on himself and get set up for a big payday, not only from Green Bay, but from the rest of the NFL.
That all makes for an interesting contract for Love, and an even more interesting decision for everybody following the 2023 NFL season.