Will Packers Trigger Love’s Fifth-Year Option?

A $20.3 million decision is due on Tuesday. Will the Packers trigger Jordan Love’s fifth-year option?

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Apr 29, 2023 11:37 PM EDT

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Words are words but money talks. While the Green Bay Packers are “excited” about new starting quarterback Jordan Love, there’s a chance they won’t flip the switch on his fifth-year option.

That must be done by 3 p.m. Tuesday. If activated, it would keep Love tied to Green Bay through the 2024 season, giving him at least this season to show he’s the worthy successor at the game’s most important position. If not activated, Love would face the two-fold pressure of replacing Aaron Rodgers while also playing for his future.

“We’re kind of still working through that,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said at the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday evening. “We’ve been so focused on the draft. We’ve had some preliminary conversations, but we’ll get to that before Tuesday.”

Why wouldn’t Gutekunst trigger the option?

“It’s a lot of money for a guy who hasn’t played,” Gutekunst said candidly.

It is a lot of money: a projected $20.272 million – fully guaranteed – according to OverTheCap.com.

If Gutekunst chooses not to do the option, it would signal the team’s not fully sold on the 2020 first-round pick, regardless of all the public praise over the past couple months.

“We’re really excited where Jordan could go,” Gutekunt said before the draft.

The progress Love showed in 2022 is one reason why the Packers were open to trading Aaron Rodgers.

“I think the biggest thing, obviously, we’ve seen steady growth through his first three years here,” Gutekunst said before the draft. “I’ve talked about the challenges that he faced with no preseason [due to the pandemic in 2020] and going through some things. Last year, there were a number of times because of Aaron’s injuries where he had to take over the 1s during practice in some of the competitive areas. I just think you saw him grow and grow and grow.”

“He didn’t get nearly as many opportunities as we would’ve liked last season during games but, when he did, he certainly answered the bell. You guys know what is put on a quarterback in the National Football League’s plate, a starting quarterback, is significant, and there’s a lot to that, not only on the field. And they’re going to go through a lot of challenges, but I think we started to see him grow into that role and felt more confident.”

The Packers could have given Love that playing time late last season. Following a loss at Philadelphia, the Packers were 4-8, Rodgers was dealing with a broken thumb and injured ribs and Love was sharp in relief vs. the Eagles.

Instead, Rodgers started the final five games and Love played seven snaps and threw three passes the rest of the season. While Green Bay rallied to the brink of the playoffs, Love was stuck on the bench – closing the window on what could have been a critical evaluation period.

Fast forward to now, the Packers have a pricey decision to make and limited supporting evidence. Thus, that evaluation period could be kicked into the start of the upcoming season.

If the Packers don’t trigger the option, it doesn’t mean the team lacks faith in Love. The reality is, especially at quarterback, you don’t really know if he can play until he has to play.

Perhaps Love will enter the season playing for a contract, with a handshake agreement to give him a long-term extension at midseason if he is trending the right way. An extension for Love in 2023 probably would be less expensive than it would be in 2024. Plus, while an extension would no doubt cost more than $20.272 million per season, the structure would mean a smaller number on the 2024 cap.

“Obviously,” Gutekunst said on Saturday, “we’re moving forward with him. So, we’ll figure that out by Tuesday.”