Packers protect themselves against a Jordan Love implosion
By John Buhler
Jordan Love will be back with the Green Bay Packers for a fifth year, but not on the fifth-year option.
Look for Jordan Love to be the Green Bay Packers‘ starting quarterback in 2023, and in 2024 now!
While Love was eligible for his fifth-year option to be picked up, the Green Bay front office had other plans in mind for the former first-rounder out of Utah State. Since Love has played sparingly in his first three NFL seasons, Green Bay somehow convinced him to take less guaranteed money by accepting a one-year contract extension through the 2024 campaign. This is odd, but I do get it.
Love’s fifth-year option would have given him $20.27 million fully-guaranteed for 2024. Instead, he agreed to a one-year extension worth up to $22.5 million and $13.5 million fully-guaranteed.
Jordan Love's 5th-year option value was for $20.272M, fully guaranteed.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 2, 2023
Rather than picking that up, Green Bay gives Love a chance at more upside, with a bit of protection for the team with less guaranteed money.
The most unique 5th-year option choice every comes to a close. https://t.co/YYTFBD5Sr8
This move is all about attempting to take the pressure off Love in his first full season as the Packers’ starter so he can go out and ball, at least somewhat unencumbered. Will it work, though?
Green Bay Packers avoid total embarrassment by extending Jordan Love for 2024
While I have been particularly critical of the Packers in recent years, especially when it comes to their general manager Brian Gutekunst, I totally understand this savvy move. I am in full support of what Green Bay wants to do in going about giving Love his best shot at success. By giving him presumably an extra year to show us what he has got, Green Bay has a solid plan going forward.
By investing such precious draft capital four years ago in Love, I completely agree that it serves the Packers to see what they have in him for at least a full season, possibly two. If it turns out well for them, then that would be wonderful. However, I have my doubts that Love will be a hall-of-famer like Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers were before him. If he is Jeff Garcia, that would be great.
More importantly, what this move does is it better positions the Packers to potentially bottom out if Love stinks. Having him take less fully-guaranteed money in an incentive-laden contract in year five could give Gutekunst more financial flexibility heading into NFL free agency or the NFL Draft in 2025. There may be an chance to upgrade at quarterback in either direction if Love is just a guy.
I think this is a deal that should make all parties happy and gives the Packers a little wiggle room.
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