Jordan Love won't practice until new deal is done; Packers GM believes sides are 'close'

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If 2023 was the build-up, 2024 should be the takeoff season for Jordan Love.

The former first-round pick blossomed down the back half of the 2023 campaign, powering a surprise run to the Divisional Round of the playoffs for the upstart Packers. After dodging years of questions of whether Love could be the true successor to Aaron Rodgers, the Utah State quarterback answered those questions in resounding fashion, positioning Green Bay as a favorite to return to the playoffs and wreak some postseason havoc in 2024.

Love’s timeline, however, has made for an interesting contractual situation for the Packers. Because Green Bay selected Love and sat him behind Rodgers for three years, it robbed itself of a chance to ride with a young quarterback on a rookie deal. The 2024 season will be Love’s second as a full-time starter, but fifth on the Packers’ payroll, the final year of a one-year extension to his four-year rookie contract. It’s time for Green Bay to again extend Love — whose representation informed the Packers he won’t practice until a deal is done — and it sounds as if it could happen soon.

“Indeed, I believe so, but there are no guarantees. We are making significant efforts to finalize this,” said Packers’ general manager Brian Gutekunst on Monday. “It’s a crucial matter for us. What reassures me is our shared objective – we both want Jordan to be part of us for an extended period. This provides him with stability, and also gives our team some solidity… I maintain a hopeful outlook. These are substantial agreements that require time. They’re not as simple as some might assume…”

I believe we’re on the right track, but there are no concrete timelines about how long it will take.

The quarterback market has remained active in 2024. Trevor Lawrence and Jared Goff each received contracts that will pay them $53 million or more per year, and Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa is still waiting on his own extension.

Despite not having sustained success as a starter, Love’s contract could still fall within a certain range. This is a common practice in the NFL, particularly for the game’s most crucial position, where the player usually has the upper hand in contract negotiations.

Love is using his leverage by safeguarding his most valuable asset – his health – and choosing to sit out until a deal is finalized. This strategy could potentially speed up the process, particularly as it makes more sense to invest in a rising star sooner rather than later.

Gutekunst clarified, “We were informed on Saturday night that he would not be attending practice until a resolution was reached. He will continue to be absent from practice until we settle this issue, which is due to start quite soon. However, we are all working towards a solution.”

We definitely comprehend his viewpoint. We wish for his presence out there, as it’s crucial for him to be involved. However, until we resolve the issue at hand, he will be refraining from practicing. He will participate in other activities though. He reported last week and is fully involved in everything else.

The rise of Love in 2023 wasn’t accidental, but rather a testament to how a team’s faith in its strategy can yield exceptional outcomes. Green Bay has every reason to anticipate continued success from its quarterback in the future, bolstering their confidence to negotiate a fresh contract.

Now, the task is to urgently figure out the numbers.