Brian Gutekunst says the Packers and Jordan Love share a timeline to get a contract extension done
The Green Bay Packers and quarterback Jordan Love might not be close to a contract extension, just like Adam Schefter recently reported. But both sides want a deal done, and they agree that it's important to find a middle ground before training camp begins in July. On Tuesday, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said the […]
The Green Bay Packers and quarterback Jordan Love might not be close to a contract extension, just like Adam Schefter recently reported. But both sides want a deal done, and they agree that it's important to find a middle ground before training camp begins in July.
On Tuesday, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said the parties are aligned and want the same thing.
"We're in those conversations right now," Gutekunst told 97.3 The Game. "A nice part about this is none of these things are always easier fast. But both parties want the same thing, we'd like to get this done before training camp for sure. Both parties want to get a contract extension done.
Gutekunst emphasized how important it is for the Packers to have Jordan Love under a long-term contract. It gives them the ability to comfortably plan and build around their quarterback of the future.
"That stability at that position really allows you to have some security with the way we build our team," Gutekunst added. "So we're looking forward to getting that done, but it never goes fast."
The Packers drafted Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He stayed three seasons behind Aaron Rodgers, so the entire contract situation was unique. Last offseason, it was time for the team to exercise Love's fifth-year option or not. So, in order not to guarantee Love a $20 million deal in 2024, the parties found a one-year, bridge contract that paid Love more money in 2023, but gave the Packers more flexibility.
With that deal, Jordan Love is already under contract through 2024. However, after a strong first season as a starter for Love, the Packers want to make sure the quarterback will be around for years to come — and for the player, it's important to be financially compensated as such.
Loves’ high-level performance in the second half of last season allowed the Packers to reach the playoffs and beat the Dallas Cowboys in the wild card round — which included a big-time performance from Love and a play that encapsulated Love's development. He saw a zero blitz, adjusted protection, and threw a perfect touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks.
"That zero blitz is a prime example of something that, going into the year, we made a strong emphasis to make sure that we had answers for when people wanted to all-out us," Matt LaFleur later said. "It's time spent, value received, so you got to judge how much time you want to put into that. A matter of a few seconds to get Tuck(er Kraft) to stay in on a protection and to hang in there when you got a free runner at you. I just thought that was so impressive, and I think that's just a great example of what he is, the growth that's transpired with him."
Even though the season ended with a disappointing interception against the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round, the Packers are banking on that Love's final stretch of the season was more a developmental track and less of an outlier.
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