Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst was facing a big decision with his new starting quarterback today. He had to decide whether to exercise the 5th year option on 2020 first round pick Jordan Love’s rookie contract, a move that would guarantee him 20.272 million dollars for the 2024 season. The deadline was this afternoon at 3:00 PM. Gutekunst took the decision to the wire, admitting it’s a lot of money for someone that hasn’t really played. Now that he’s QB1 with Aaron Rodgers in New York, Love won’t have to concern himself with the option year. Instead, the Packers and Love have worked out a two year extension of his contract. According to reports, the Packers will pay Love 22.5 million dollars for this season and next with 13.5 million fully guaranteed. Love is expected to receive a hefty raise for 2023 where he was due to earn just 2.3 million on the 4th year of his rookie deal. There are also playing time and incentive bonuses that could increase his compensation in his first season as Green Bay’s starting quarterback. Since being selected 26th overall in the first round of 2020, Love has appeared in 10 games, with one start, against Kansas City in 2021. He’s thrown for 606 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. In relief of Rodgers last November against the eventual NFC champion Eagles in Philadelphia, Love went 6 of 9 for 113 yards with a 63 yard touchdown strike to Christian Watson.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur said even before the new contract details were announced, Love is now the anointed leader of his team.
Love now has contract security through the first two seasons of “being the guy” giving the Packers ample time to determine if he can play his way toward a long-term extension. The compromise also gives the team some salary cap breathing room to emerge from the Rodgers dead money impacting this season.
Love’s wasn’t the only contract getting attention. Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports veteran safety Darnell Savage has also agreed to a restructured deal. Savage is entering the 5th year option season as a first round pick and was scheduled to earn 7.9 million dollars this season. The two sides have agreed to convert 6.82 million of that (including a four million dollar signing bonus) into a pro-ratable cap figure adding voidable years to the deal from 2024 to 2027. That will give the team time to consider a contract extension before March of 2024. Savage fell out of favor with defensive coaches mid-season last year but is expected to be given a larger role this fall.
