The Green Bay Packers have signed Quarterback Jordan Love to a groundbreaking four-year contract extension worth $220 million, making him one of the highest-paid players in NFL history. The deal includes a $75 million signing bonus, the largest ever in NFL history. Love’s average annual salary of $55 million ties him with Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow for the highest in the league.
Historic Contract Details
Love’s new contract surpasses the total value of any deal former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers received. Before the 2022 season, Rodgers signed his last contract, a three-year extension worth $150.8 million. Despite Rodgers’ extensive experience and three MVP awards, Love’s contract reflects the current booming quarterback market.
The Packers are all-in on making a Super Bowl run. With Love’s cap number rising only to about $21 million, the team still has significant salary cap space to add top players if needed.
Jordan Love’s Path to the Big Contract
Jordan Love, the Packers’ first-round pick in 2020, spent three seasons learning behind Aaron Rodgers. Love’s first season as a starter in 2023 had a rocky beginning, but he finished strong. In his last 10 games, Love achieved eight passer ratings over 100, throwing 23 touchdowns and only three interceptions. His regular season stats included 4,159 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, joining an elite group of quarterbacks to achieve such numbers in their first full season.
Love’s 2023 Performance
Love’s impressive performance in 2023 led the Packers to the playoffs for the first time in his career as a starter. He demonstrated exceptional poise and command, particularly in the NFC wild-card round against the Dallas Cowboys, where he set Green Bay’s postseason records for passer rating and passing yards per attempt.
Comparisons to Other Quarterbacks
Love’s contract is part of a trend where NFL teams secure their franchise quarterbacks with lucrative deals to prevent them from reaching free agency. In 2024 alone, several quarterbacks, including Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, have signed similar high-value contracts. Love’s deal stands out with its historic signing bonus and high guarantees.
Packers’ Future with Love
With Love at the helm, the Packers aim to build a team capable of competing for the Super Bowl. The team has made strategic moves to strengthen the roster, including signing former Raiders Pro Bowler Josh Jacobs and top free agent safety Xavier McKinney. Additionally, the Packers drafted Arizona left tackle Jordan Morgan to bolster the offensive line, and Jeff Hafley was hired as the new defensive coordinator to implement a more aggressive defense.
The Packers’ commitment to Jordan Love with this historic contract signals their confidence in his abilities to lead the team to future success. As Love prepares for the upcoming season, the Packers and their fans are hopeful that he will continue his upward trajectory and bring more championships to Green Bay.
The Information is Taken from Packersnews and CBS Sports