The Green Bay Packers training camp began yesterday with a massive absence, their franchise QB Jordan Love. Love and the Packers have been in talks and seem to be heading in the right direction, yet the pen has yet to hit the paper. It has been reported that Love will not be on the practice field until he gets a deal done with the team.
After a very successful first season as the Packer’s full-time starter, Love and his camp feel he should be paid as a top QB. His stats back this up, last season he threw for the 7th most yards in the league, and the second most touchdowns with 32.
During the 2023 season, he outperformed guys like Trevor Lawrence ($55 million annually), Justin Herbert ($52.5 million annually), Jalen Hurts ($51 million annually), and Kyler Murray ($46 million annually). This leads me to believe that Love’s new contract will be in the $52-58 million-per-year range. A number like this would make him the first or second highest-paid quarterback in the NFC. But will Green Bay break the bank for someone who has only started one full season in the NFL?
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst seemed confident that both parties were on the same page when he said, “The thing I have confidence in is we both want the same thing.” Perhaps Green Bay feels they have seen enough out of him to put all of their chips on the table.
Looking at the bigger picture, it makes a lot more sense for Green Bay to get these negotiations out of the way now. The QB market is only going to go up as the season progresses and if the Packers start hot that 50 million-dollar-a-year contract could make its way to 60 million. The Packer’s final training camp practice runs from July 22nd to August 22nd and I don’t see world where a deal isn’t done by the time September rolls around.
