The Green Bay Packers caught the entire NFL off guard last season when the youngest roster in the NFL suddenly found its groove in the second half of the year and made a run into the playoffs.
Jordan Love and company knocked off the Dallas Cowboys with ease in the first round of the postseason, an outcome almost nobody predicted.
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 Green Bay 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.
“Yeah, I think so, but again you never know. We’re working really hard to get that done,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said Monday. “I think it’s really important for us. At the same time, the thing that I have confidence in is that we both want the same thing. We want Jordan here for a long time, give him that stability for him, and it gives us some stability for our group as well. … I’m optimistic. These are big deals. It takes time. They’re not as easy as some people may think. …
“I feel we’re close, but no real timetables as far as how long it’s going to take.”
Love is in line for a new deal that could make him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. The number to shoot for is anything worth more than $55 million a year. Although Love only has been a starter for the Packers for a season, he benefits from a quarterback market that’s constantly resetting. Joe Burrow will make $55 million this season. Then Trevor Lawrence, who signed a new contract earlier this summer, will earn $55 million in 2025.
As of now, the Packers QB is on hand at training camp, but not participating in any activities as his contract situation remains in limbo.
Green Bay Packers Sign QB Jacob Eason With Jordan Love Contract Uncertainty
On Tuesday, the Packers signed QB Jacob Eason and released LS Peter Bowden. The transactions were announced by General Manager Brian Gutekunst.
Eason (6-6, 226), a third-year player out of the University of Washington, was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round (No. 122 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He has played in two career games, one for the Colts in 2021 and one for the Carolina Panthers in 2022. Eason has also spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants. He participated as a tryout player in the Packers’ rookie minicamp back in May. Eason will wear No. 7 for the Packers.
The Green Bay Packers’ second-string quarterback last year was Sean Clifford. Green Bay drafted Tulane star Michael Pratt in the seventh round of April’s draft. Meanwhile, the team also moved Alex McGough from quarterback to receiver in early May, but he was placed on injured reserve last week.
It will be interesting if Eason ends up finding a way on to the final roster. Right now, all Packers fans are waiting for Love to ink an extension so everyone can focus on the season ahead.
