- Jordan Love’s future remains unclear with Aaron Rodgers staying in Green Bay.
- The Packers will need to decide whether to exercise Love’s fifth-year option.
The Packers remain atop NFL odds to win the NFC North with reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers behind center. But the signing of his most recent deal leaves Jordan Love in a peculiar situation.
Love was picked in the first round, 26th overall, in the 2020 NFL Draft. At the time, Rodgers’ future with the franchise was in jeopardy, so looking to the future wasn’t the worst thing the Packers could’ve done.
Remember, Green Bay took Rodgers in the first round of the 2005 draft with Brett Favre still on the team.
But since Love was selected, Rodgers was the league MVP in the following two seasons. Then Rodgers, a top-five NFL betting odds favorite for MVP again, signed a three-year, $150.8 million extension.
That leaves the question: What should the Packers do with Love?
OH MY, JORDAN LOVE! 🎯🎯🎯
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/GSi1G2qM2N
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 13, 2022
Jordan Love Contract & Salary
Jordan Love’s salary on his rookie contract is $12.4 million over four years, all of which is guaranteed. That includes a $6.6 million signing bonus. His average salary on the deal is $3.1 million per year.
In 2022, Love’s deal has a $1.7 million base salary, a cap hit of $3.4 million and a $6.5 million dead cap hit.
In 2023, Love’s contract has a $2.3 million base salary, a $3.9 million cap hit and a dead cap figure of $3.1 million.
The Packers have a choice in front of them regarding what Love does from there.
Jordan Love first career TD ✅
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/xLupyaPfuK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 8, 2021
Jordan Love Fifth-Year Option
The Packers will need to decide whether to exercise Love’s fifth-year option, which would be in 2024, a year beforehand. The deadline for such options has taken place in early May.
For example, the deadline for fifth-year options on 2019 draft class rookie deals was May 2, 2022.
According to Over the Cap, the money paid out for that option depends on a tier system. Which tier Love would fall under depends on playing time and Pro Bowl selections.
Love has played just six games with one start. He’s completed 36 of 62 passes (58%) for 411 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Rodgers missing most of the season, allowing Love a chance to play and earn a spot in the Pro Bowl is probably the only way he moves up this tier system.
Jordan Love 🤝 Kylin Hill
TOUCHDOWN PACKERS!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/s48mEUlBT7
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 15, 2021
That means Love would be eligible for a fifth-year option that would be the average of the third- to 25th-highest paid salaries at quarterback over the past five seasons.
To give some perspective, the fifth-year option for quarterbacks in this tier drafted in 2019 would’ve been $19.6 million.
That’s significantly more than Love has been making and it would be a lot for the Packers to cough up for someone who could end up as a backup for that year. Perhaps a Jordan Love trade is a possibility, but it would likely have to be soon so a team knows what he’s capable of before giving him more money.
But if the Packers believe he’s worth keeping and developing so he’s ready to take over for Rodgers by 2025, then maybe it will be worth it.
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