GREEN BAY — It sure sounds like Jordan Love’s contract extension will be done soon.
Love, normally expansive in his answers, was short when discussing his contract on Tuesday after the first practice of minicamp. He’s made it clear he doesn’t like talking about his impending deal. However, Love answered with a simple but perhaps telling “yes” when asked if he’s optimistic his deal could get done before training camp starts on July 22.
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Why is he optimistic?
“It’s what I’ve heard,” he said, adding he likes knowing what’s going on with his contract talks.
A reporter brought up Love’s apparent disdain for discussing his contract situation, in a playful manner, and Love remained stonefaced while not saying any words and maybe even hiding a grin (you can decide for yourself at the end of the video below).
“By that look, it sounds like maybe you guys are close,” another reporter said.
Love maintained the same face and remained silent.
Jordan Love on where things stand with his contract extension. pic.twitter.com/pEem2bhGM6
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) June 11, 2024
General manager Brian Gutekunst said on 97.3 The Game radio station in Milwaukee recently that “both parties want the same thing” and “we’d like to get this done before training camp, for sure.” While that certainly sounds telling, a reminder that Gutekunst said he “absolutely” expected running back Aaron Jones back at the beginning of the offseason before later requesting him to take a massive pay cut and releasing him when he didn’t take it. This is a franchise quarterback, though, not a productive yet aging running back, so it’s not exactly apples to apples.
Love has participated in the entire voluntary offseason program despite not having a new deal and practiced again on Tuesday for the first day of minicamp. His presence has been invaluable for the Packers as a young offense looks to build on its breakout second half of last season and contend for a Super Bowl in 2024. When asked after the first open practice of OTAs why he wanted to show up without a new contract, something common around the league in players looking to cash in, Love said, “That’s just something that I’ve always done, trying to be here, get the reps in, get the work in with the guys and just start building that chemistry and getting ready for the season.”
Jordan Love: “Since I’ve been here, I feel like this is the closest the team’s been … I think this team’s at an awesome spot right now.” pic.twitter.com/9bHfPNSUJl
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) June 4, 2024
Common sense indicates Love won’t play in a preseason game without a new deal, but there are still about two months between Tuesday and Green Bay’s preseason opener in Cleveland on Aug. 10. What might that new deal look like?
In a story with The Athletic from May 3, the first day Love was eligible to sign an extension, Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti estimated that Love will get an extension worth $200 million over four years or an average annual salary of $50 million. However, it’s possible Love’s agents, David Mulugheta and Andrew Kessler, saw Lions quarterback Jared Goff get $53 million a year this offseason and want more than that. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is currently the highest-paid quarterback in the league at $55 million per year, according to Over The Cap.
GO DEEPER
No WR1, no problem for Jordan Love and Packers' promising offense
Though Love has only played about half a season worthy of an annual salary in the $50 million range, whatever he’s paid in the near future could end up a bargain a couple of years down the line if he continues on his trajectory and salaries continue to skyrocket. Is it out of the realm of possibility for Love to be the highest-paid player in NFL history in the coming weeks? Maybe not.
“I think it’s well-deserved. Obviously, I love having him as my quarterback,” wide receiver Christian Watson said recently. “Just to get that deal done and know he’s gonna be here a while, I’m definitely gonna be excited for him.”
(Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
