After Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers agreed to a one-year agreement that may be worth up to $22.5 million, the Packers were able to shed some light on their quarterback position beyond the 2023 campaign.
The agreement replaces Love’s fifth-year option and includes $13.5 million in guarantees, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Field Yates of ESPN offered an explanation of the conditions of the contract:
His ascent represents a reset for the entire company.
With an 8-9 record, Green Bay’s three-year playoff run came to an end in 2022. When assessing Love, it produced the worst possible situation.
The Packers were in a position to maybe pack it in over the closing weeks with one or two more losses when they were 4-8. It made sense to bench Rodgers and give Love a few starts; the front staff would have gained some understanding of Love’s future projections that way.
Rather, Green Bay triumphed in four straight games to renew its prospects for the postseason and keep Rodgers in the starting lineup.
Love, who has only attempted 83 passes in his NFL career, is now starting his fourth season.
When the 24-year-old replaced Rodgers for his lone start against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021, he appeared outmatched. He completed 19 of 34 passes for 190 yards, one interception, and one touchdown.
When Love was called into action during a Week 12 game against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, things were a little different. The Packers lost 40-33 despite him going 6-of-9 for 113 yards and one touchdown.
It’s unclear for sure whether Utah State’s 2020 first-round pick
“We’re really pleased with his progression and what he’s been able to do,” he told reporters. “I think it would be really good for him…the growth you need to go through, seeing things for the first time, making those mistakes you need to make, but I think from our end of it, we’ve seen what we need to see.”
When it came to the fifth-year option, the benefits of picking it up outweighed the drawbacks of letting him become a free agent in 2024.
If the jury is still out on Love after 2023, then Green Bay will have one more year to gauge his suitability and value. Should he have a monster campaign next season, his guaranteed salary will be reasonable in retrospect and buy the front office time to negotiate an extension.
Daniel Jones is a prime example of how declining the fifth-year option can backfire in a big way.
Rather than paying $22.4 million in 2023, the New York Giants had to fork over $40 million per year in a four-year, $160 million contract (and $92 million guaranteed) to retain the 25-year-old following his career year. What felt like a reasonable decision at the time wound up carrying a significant cost for New York.
