Utah State prodigy Jordan Love is anticipated to secure a substantial contract extension as the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback this spring. Representatives for Love are set to discuss his contract situation with the Packers, as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network recently reported.
Love’s successful season positions him to secure a fruitful contract extension comparable to other top quarterbacks in the league. On top of leading the Packers to the playoffs in the first season as a starter, he was also named “Breakout Player of The Year” for 2023 by Pro Football Focus.
Initially, the 25-year-old quarterback signed a two-year “band-aid” contract in May 2020, characterized by Rapoport. Three years later, on May 2023, Love extended his contract with the Packers through the upcoming season with a one-year, $22.5 million deal.
However, given his stellar performance this season, negotiations are expected to culminate in a lucrative extension. His career is predicted to involve a contract well beyond 2024.
“My understanding is that, as he enters the final year of his contract, again, the Packers and Love representation are expected to address this,” Rapoport said on NFL Network on Saturday.
“This coming spring, do not be surprised if he does get that massive, franchise quarterback-type contract extension, and the further he goes in the playoffs, the richer he is going to be,” Rapoport added.
In 2024, the California-born athlete’s existing contract offers a total salary of only $11 million. A contract extension placing him in the top 10 on average would demand an additional $40 million per year for the Packers. The cost would rise to $49 million annually or more to secure a spot in the top five.
The timeline for the extension is constrained, as official signing cannot occur until May, a year after his previous contract. Love has achieved several incentives tied to his current deal, including a top-10 finish in passing touchdowns and a playoff win.
Love’s season breakthroughs
After playing for three seasons as the Utah State Aggies’ starting quarterback, Love graduated in 2019 and was subsequently drafted by the Packers in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Picked 26th overall, Love became the first player from Utah State to be chosen in the first round since 1973.
In his first year as a starter in 2023, Love threw 32 touchdown passes and surpassed 4,000 passing yards in 17 starts. This feat makes him the third first-year starter in NFL history to achieve both benchmarks, joining 2017 Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner and Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
While Love had a less-than-satisfying first half, he consistently improved in the second half of the season. His overall PFF grade for the season ranked 12th, with San Fransisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy being the only passer with a superior grade from Week 9 onward.
From that point, Love excelled with 25 “big-time throws,” second only to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who threw 34. Love also managed 21 touchdown passes while only throwing three interceptions.
Love’s recent performance led the Packers to a 6-2 finish, securing a playoff spot as the No. 7 seed. In the NFC Wild Card Round last Monday, he astounded with three touchdown passes and a near-perfect passer rating in a 48-32 victory over the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Green Bay eventually lost to San Fransisco 24-21 in the NFC Divisional Round.