Cory's Corner: Jordan Love Can Wait, The Packers Cannot
Tis the season for a contract extension. How long can the Packers wait?
Giving Jordan Love a contract extension is what the Packers desperately need.
He is one of the hottest quarterbacks entering the NFL this upcoming season after turning heads in his very first season as a starter. He even won a playoff game.
In his final eight regular season games, Love went 6-2 by completing over 70 percent of his passes for 2,150 yards, 18 touchdowns and only one pick. Those aren’t just sparkly stats, but he proved that he could win games by himself.
That’s something that is usually reserved for proven veterans. But that was the anomaly. Last year was Love’s fourth NFL season. He has been absorbing NFL plays, situations and people for three years. He likely wasn’t ready to roll directly out of Utah State, but after developing in the Packers Quarterback Greenhouse, he is on the doorstep of being a top 10 NFL quarterback.
But from Love’s point-of-view, he wants to wait. He has a valid argument to make more than Kirk Cousins. The 35-year-old will make an average of $45 million in 2024, good for ninth among quarterbacks in the league. Love, on the other hand, is 25 and has his entire career in front of him with a loaded roster and an innovative offensively-minded head coach.
He could wait until training camp and see if another team gives an over-the-top offer. The first team you need to think of here is the Cowboys. Owner Jerry Jones is downright desperate for another championship, which is why he signed Ezekiel Elliott to a six-year, $90 million deal in 2019. Dak Prescott is scheduled to make an average of $40 million in 2024 and could very well argue for something close to an average of $60 million. He could even wait out the entire season and then be franchise tagged in 2025 — which is obviously something the Packers want to avoid.
And if Prescott makes that kind of money, what can Love get for winning a road playoff game and outperforming Aaron Rodgers in the future Hall of Famer’s first season as a starter. Love had a better completion percentage (64.2 to 63.6), touchdowns (32 to 28), interceptions (11 to 13) and a better passer rating (96.1 to 93.8).
I’m not saying that Love is an automatic Hall of Famer, but he is an elite quarterback because of his multiple arm angles and ability to get out of trouble.
That’s why the Packers need to sign him to an extension soon, but if Love should be perfectly content to wait.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (94)
stockholder
May 14, 2024 at 06:28 am
Jarod Goff just signed- 4yrs 212 M.
How can Gute just stand here and do Nothing?
Well we did have John Hadl.
And I even remember Jim McMahon.
Confidence is high. Right....
GB@Germany
May 14, 2024 at 06:40 am
Tag Jordan two times and prepare Mchael Pratt?
Just kidding, the extention will be signed before the game in Brazil.
stockholder
May 14, 2024 at 06:49 am
More than Likely.
But don't forget why Tom Clements stayed.
And Love hasn't appeared in a super-Bowl.
Goff did.
jannesbjornson
May 14, 2024 at 10:01 am
I believe Lovat went to Seattle with Holmgren....
stockholder
May 14, 2024 at 10:17 am
Your right Typed wrong last name -
Tom Clements - edited
Had the news on distracting from my thought.
jannesbjornson
May 14, 2024 at 10:50 am
Bombs away...
TKWorldWide
May 14, 2024 at 07:28 am
And if Gutekunst had ALREADY signed Love to a big extension, you’d have applauded the move?
stockholder
May 14, 2024 at 10:35 am
No matter what-
Love is going to cost the packers money.
The problem is who value hims most.
Gute or the Fans.
I don't value Love as much as Rodgers.
The difference is Rodgers earned it.
Love hasn't yet.
A hot hand can be cooled by sitting the bench.
If Love remains HOT.
And injury free.
The Packers have a starter.
But is he a winner.
What has he won?
That is the question when it comes
to this much money going out.
What has he won.????
jannesbjornson
May 14, 2024 at 10:54 am
Love put them in the Playoffs, as a year One starter and he won over Big Dump on the road. He should have been given better defense vs the 49rs and he would have been in the NFCCH. At this point in time, he is ahead of Rodgers in the direct compare and contrast evaluation.
stockholder
May 14, 2024 at 11:07 am
The accuracy isn't like Rodgers.
Thats just a fact.
Coldworld
May 14, 2024 at 11:37 am
Rodgers completion percentage in the 2008 regular season was 63.6%. Love’s in 2023 was 64.2%.
Looks pretty similar to me.
13 interceptions for Rodgers, 11 for Love.
Looks slightly better for Love.
4038 yards to Love’s 4159 (an extra game). Looks very similar to me.
Exactly what phantasmagorical fiction do you base this particular assertion of “fact” that Rodgers was clearly so much more accurate on?
Oppy
May 14, 2024 at 06:39 pm
Stockholder has one of those "fathead" full-sized vinyl wall stickers of Rodgers stapled to the ceiling above his bed.
TKWorldWide
May 14, 2024 at 02:48 pm
Incoherent.
We’re done here.
LLCHESTY
May 14, 2024 at 11:18 am
Dumb comment as usual. If you don't know by now Ball does the contracts and answers to Murphy your trolling game is very weak.
stockholder
May 14, 2024 at 11:52 am
If I told you Love would be greater than Bart Starr.
If I said; Gute is the greatest GM the packers ever had.
If I said Rodgers was a ass-hole with No feelings.
If I told you MM isn't really a good coach.
I be like you.
And that wouldn't benefit anyone.
Coldworld
May 14, 2024 at 02:05 pm
Q: What’s Rodgers got to do with a new contract for Love?
A: Nothing.
You just can’t let go.
stockholder
May 14, 2024 at 03:05 pm
Correct - Nothing-
Why did you think it did?
I use to think Great minds think a like.
But that just isn't true here. /Now.
You just don't get it.
The packers will come up short.
Los Vegas is never wrong.
And that has already been discussed.
Coldworld
May 14, 2024 at 03:56 pm
Because you brought him up.
GB@Germany
May 14, 2024 at 06:35 am
Just found a nice statistic for Jordan to consider (CBS):
% of salary cap for Super Bowl-winning QBs
Patrick Mahomes (2022) 17.2%
Matthew Stafford (2021)11.0%
Tom Brady (2020) 12.6%
Patrick Mahomes (2019) 2.4%
Tom Brady (2018) 12.4%
Nick Foles (2017) 1.0%
Tom Brady (2016) 8.9%
Peyton Manning (2015) 12.2%
Tom Brady (2014) 11.1%
Russell Wilson (2013) 0.6%
Joe Flacco (2012) 6.6%
Eli Manning (2011) 11.7%
Aaron Rodgers (2010) 5.4%
Drew Brees (2009) 8.7%
Ben Roethlisberger (2008) 6.9%
Eli Manning (2007) 9.2%
Peyton Manning (2006) 10.4%
Ben Roethlisberger (2005) 4.9%
Tom Brady (2004) 6.3%
Tom Brady (2003) 4.4%
Brad Johnson (2002) 9.6%
Tom Brady (2001) 0.5%
Trent Dilfer (2000) 1.6%
Kurt Warner (1999) 1.3%
John Elway (1998) 5.0%
John Elway (1997) 5.2%
Brett Favre (1996) 10.2%
Troy Aikman (1995) 6.7%
Steve Young (1994) 13.1%
So what difference makes it, if you get 250 or 200mil?
It should be plenty for the rest of your live in both cases.
But it might pay the additional player helping you win a ring.
It would be great, if Jordan would sign in the 17- 18% area of cap space, extending the GB window-
Not saying I belive it happening...
SicSemperTyrannis
May 14, 2024 at 08:48 am
Most of them are 12% or less, that would be better.
Turophile
May 14, 2024 at 09:20 am
The market finds its own level, money-wise. If its higher than you like, tough, because other teams WILL pay market value (or even above) for a top tier QB.......ESPECIALLY a young top tier guy because they seldom hit the open market.
So if it is $48m, $50m or even more, THAT is the price. Pay it or move on.
The cap this year is $255.4m. 20% of that is (near enough) $51.11m. That is probably not that far from what Love will get. Maybe the hit is a little less if there is a feeling on both sides he still has to prove things, but I think this is the ballpark figure. It's tough to win with the QB taking such a big chunk of the cap, but not impossible.
Its one of the reasons having a very young team benefits them, there are lots of cheap contracts to counterbalance the huge one.
Bitternotsour
May 14, 2024 at 09:32 am
I'm relatively sure if there were a bidding war that 20% assumption would go right out the window. $212M for Goff, would any fan, any GM trade Love for Goff???
Turophile
May 14, 2024 at 05:25 pm
I see what you are saying but the situation is different for the Lions. They may not think Goff is as good as Love, but Goff is the guy they actually have on their team and they cannot get Love............ so they overpay Goff, to keep the guy they do have..
NickPerry
May 14, 2024 at 06:36 am
I've said it before...Giving Love that kind of money for 8 games of AWESOME QB play just scares the crap out of me. Personally I don't think ANY QB is worth that kind of money other than Mahomes. But in todays NFL, when desperate ass teams like the Lions over pay their QB's it's inevitable.
What would be awesome for Love to tell his agent to get him $45 million a year on average for 4 or 5 years and he's GOOD. I mean common man, $45 million? Afterall Love was 3-6 after 9 games last season and as much as I hate to say it, I was questioning if he could be the next great Packers QB. Then he went on a tear, beat the hell out of the Cowboys and if his defense held on to a Brock Purdy pass or two (Savage, I'm looking at you) their playing Detroit in the NFFCG.
I understand it's EASY for me to say take $45 Million so the Packers can pay as many of those WR's, TE's, and O-Linemen that make his job easier. I mean how much money do you REALLY need? $45 million, $55 million, it's all monopoly money to me at that point. Take $45 million and sign as many of those guys like Reed, Wicks, Musgrave, Kraft, Doubs, & Tom just to name a few.
I get it, paying him $55 million will sound like a deal in 3 years. $45 million sounds like a FAIR payday to me. Hell, if he took $45 million and the Packers won a few SB's the next few years BECAUSE Love wasn't a greedy F##K, he'd instantly become ALMOST as loved as Bart Starr with a chance to maybe be as loved. Not just that, he's still be in line to make it up before he turns 30.
T7Steve
May 14, 2024 at 06:53 am
I think the Packers would have done better than the National Flag Football Championship. LOL. I glad I never make typpows.
I received a bunch of downvotes for hoping He'd want and take a team friendly deal for this contract, but I believe he understands what's ahead and will want this team to grow around him. He witnessed the end of the previous QBs tenure and how his contract created tough decisions for the team. I'm not even referring to Adams so much as the experienced O-line players that they had to let walk through the years.
ricky
May 14, 2024 at 07:11 am
Any team that finds what they believe is a franchise QB has to pay the piper. Here is a list of the highest paid QB's in the NFL:
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfls-top-10-highest-paid-qbs-of-2024-...
Do you really think that Love will want less money than Kyler Murray? Or Jalen Hurts, when he was drafted earlier the same year? Unlikely. Love and his agent are going to want to want a deal in the $55 million/year average range. To us, that is crazy money. But in the NFL, that is the going rate. Should Love take less to help the team? No, I don't believe he should. The team will show him no loyalty once they believe he is on the decline, and they have a cheaper alternative ready to take over. And, by the way, there is a reason the Lions who were anxious to get Goff signed. They are looking to make a serious SB run this season, and without a QB, you're not going anywhere. The Bears and Vikings are both going to be depending on rookies. And if you look around the league, you can see that the Jets were desperate enough to sign Rodgers to a big contract; Cleveland is still struggling, while their QB plays mediocre football on a big, guaranteed contract; Denver apparently made a huge mistake in Wilson, and there are plenty of other teams who would gladly "overpay" to bring in Love. This is not reality; it is the NFL.
NickPerry
May 14, 2024 at 11:06 am
"Any team that finds what they believe is a franchise QB has to pay the piper. Here is a list of the highest paid QB's in the NFL:"
Yup, and I'd bet every one on that list played more than 8 good games before they got paid...That's all I'm saying.
I understand the Packers HAVE to pay what the market dictates. IMO $55 million is a bunch of BS for a dude that played 8 or 9 great games and 8 or 9 not so great. Like it or not it's a HUGE risk but one they'll make I'm sure.
Lets hope the Packers get the November/December Jordan Love and not the September/October Jordon Love.
stockholder
May 14, 2024 at 11:10 am
It is a huge risk
Especially since we keep changing DCs.
And have a revolving Door.
jannesbjornson
May 15, 2024 at 08:23 am
True, if you are going to make the change up, you do not hire a guy like Barry.
WestCoastPackerBacker
May 14, 2024 at 05:25 pm
It's more than 8 good games. It's how they have seen Love progress, and they've had him for 4 years now. They know him, they know his work ethic, his leadership, his commitment and his skill set. None of that is going anywhere, even if he doesn't play quite as well this year. GB wants to be a Super Bowl winning team. You don't get that unless you pay the true talent on the roster. It's the downside of developing him behind Rodgers for the season.
Even during the bad games, you could see what Jordan could be, and later in the season, he proved it. Unless you want to try to give up a bunch of draft picks to get close enough to the top of the draft to get a good QB, you gotta pay the one you got. Love outplayed much of the league the latter part of the season and into the playoffs. That's worth it for the Packers to pay him. He will win games, he will put fans in seats, he will give them the chance to get to the Title game. There's nobody else on the horizon that can do that for GB.
LLCHESTY
May 14, 2024 at 12:06 pm
"Hell, if he took $45 million and the Packers won a few SB's the next few years"
Would you leave $10 million a year on the table? Because if you would you might not be competitive enough to be starting in the NFL. That's besides the fact that if an agent allowed that to happen he'd be losing clients.
If Love doesn't think he's a better QB than Goff he's not going to win a SB and if he does he's going to want to get paid like it.
GregC
May 14, 2024 at 06:53 am
I don't understand the reasoning here. Jordan Love is under contract for the 2024 season. How could he wait until training camp and see if another team makes him an offer? He won't be a free agent until after the season is over.
It is in the best interests of BOTH the Packers and Love to get a deal done before the season begins--the sooner the better so they can put it behind them.
T7Steve
May 14, 2024 at 06:55 am
I think he meant what other QBs like Dak were getting offered.
GregC
May 14, 2024 at 07:30 am
Oh I get it now, thanks. I was confused by that paragraph. It seems like such an unlikely scenario that I hadn't even considered it. Would Love really play that game? I doubt that he is that cynical.
T7Steve
May 14, 2024 at 07:37 am
He wouldn't but his agent will most definitely. Like relators, they look at the comps.
GregC
May 14, 2024 at 08:34 am
Point taken, it's not about Love being cynical. I should've said that I don't think relations between the team and Love's agent (who is employed by Love after all) are so bad that they will be playing those kinds of games with each other. There's been no indication of anything like that, but you never know, things can fall apart quickly, as happened with Aaron Jones.
T7Steve
May 14, 2024 at 01:51 pm
Things can fall apart quickly. I think they've been having discussions for a while though and the team is happy where they are going.
You can't compare this situation to Aaron Jones's situation. Apples to oranges, I think. Aging vet running back (as much as I love him and his play) with injury history to a star young QB. The Packers won't let this get out of hand. Love or his agent won't either for that matter.
Length, guaranties, and signing bonus are really the only things to work out. Large signing bonus works for both sides actually. Love will have the money to start working for him and the team can spread it out.
Packers0808
May 14, 2024 at 07:23 am
Guess we are about to find out how loyal Love is to the Packers after giving him the time to develop as at this point a GOOD not GREAT yet QB!
WestCoastPackerBacker
May 14, 2024 at 05:28 pm
There's no loyalty on either side of the equation. Zero. You get paid for producing, period. If his skills diminished, or when they do, they will let him go just like they did Aaron Jones.
Packers0808
May 15, 2024 at 07:45 am
Not all players and factors are always equal.
Since'61
May 14, 2024 at 07:26 am
Love is under contract for 2024. There is no need for the Packers to extend him until they see how he plays during the 2024 season. He can be extended during the season if he is playing well.
I would wait until about mid-season and then extend him.
What if he regresses in his second season? I don’t expect that to happen but it has happened with other QBs over the years.
Given the amount of money that is being discussed for Love the Packers should leave their options open.
I would prefer for the Packers to avoid another “We’re not idiots.” contract and salary cap situation like they created with Rodgers. Thanks, Since ‘61
T7Steve
May 14, 2024 at 07:48 am
There're two sides to the waiting game. If he plays like we want him to, the longer you wait the more expensive it gets.
I just want him to believe in himself and take a contract with reasonable guaranties and a lot of performance escalators that will make him a bunch of money but not hurt the cap as much. The older a player gets the less escalators they can play for.
Packman60
May 14, 2024 at 09:35 am
That would be a HUGE mistake. For one it sends a bad message to the locker room. Two, it massively shifts the leverage in contract negotiations to the player. Look no further than the Dak Prescott with the Cowboys. Sign him now as the price is only going to get higher the longer you wait. He has earned the contract ,get it done.
jannesbjornson
May 14, 2024 at 10:10 am
Yes, ink him in December ,or after the trade deadline.
WestCoastPackerBacker
May 14, 2024 at 05:32 pm
Respectfully, there's no other options to leave open. They're not going to be anywhere near drafting a QB of the calibre of Love unless they do a whole bunch of losing first. There's not much out there for vets should Love decide to refuse any offer and hit the market next year.
The only option is pay him a lot now or pay him A LOT MORE later. The amount they'll need to pay to keep him is not going down. People are afraid of the Daniel Jones deal. Love is head and shoulders above Daniel Jones as a QB.
The Brock Purdys of this league are extremely rare. And SF gave up a bunch of draft capital to get Trey Lance when they were getting ready to move on from Jimmy G; that draft capital is lost for nothing in return.
ricky
May 14, 2024 at 07:27 am
There were some things that were revealed last season. That the Packers do not need to overpay for a "#1 WR", like Adams or Jefferson or Hill. Rather, get some guys who can get decent separation and have some chemistry with the QB. Second, Love himself said he was hesitating earlier in the season, holding onto the ball too long (a Rodgers trait), and therefore not completing as many passes. That and WR's just not grabbing passes that were very catchable. Once Love decided to simply sling the ball, he improved greatly, the receivers were more likely to catch the ball with added experience, the offense started to click. Then, add in that LaFleur opened the playbook as he felt more confident in Love's ability, and we also saw just how the offense is supposed to work. And it worked very, very well.
Some other things that could push the Packers to more success. If Watson can stay healthy; if the running game can be better for the entire season (I still miss the backfield of Jones and Williams), and if the TE's keep developing, this could be an overwhelming offense. And the Packers could be true SB contenders. And right now it seems their only real divisional opponent is Detroit. Notice, no mention of the defense, because that is still the great unknown. But it's the off-season. Time to be positive, but not delusional. Though I'd personally prefer delusional to gloom and doom.
Renllaw
May 14, 2024 at 07:43 am
What you have to consider is that we are talking about professional athletes. To get to this stage requires a competitive nature and drive that most people will never understand. Myself included. At the NFL level, Superbowl wins and being the best (highest paid) player at your position is the goal. So it SHOULD be Love's goal to be the top paid QB. The only QB I know of that took less to build a better team was Brady. He is also the only NFL player I know of whose wife made more money than he did, allowing him to be comfortable knowing his family is already set for generations.
The other side of this QB compensation conversation is the core NFL player, if it keeps going this way, pretty soon teams with top 10 QB’s will have to have +60% of their roster as rookies or veteran minimum contracts. If I’m a players union rep I’m pushing for either a QB cap or a clause where no contract can be X amount of your cap. This is screwing the journeyman NFL veteran. The kind of guys a union is supposed to protect.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 14, 2024 at 09:05 am
TB12 took team friendly deals, won a record number of games at every level, and still earned plenty for generational wealth even without his wife's income.
Many things can ruin the league, and greed doesn't get an exemption.
Untylu1968
May 14, 2024 at 03:19 pm
If you're paid the going rate, are you being greedy?
Coldworld
May 14, 2024 at 07:56 am
Goff got paid like a top 5 QB. Is he really that or is it his primarily the dominant OL he’s had?
A fascinating gamble by the Lions that also brings down the curtain on their period where the cap really wasn’t too much of an issue for them. Are they set for the future or ensuring that they have already peaked?
As to Love, he’s getting paid, the only real question is how long the team gets control for and how that structure works. Whether that’s now or in the fall doesn’t matter that much, though I suspect it’s sooner.
Id rather pay him than soon-to-be 30 Goff. Love is far more likely to have more upside. Goff is only going to get more dependent on his protection than he has been to date.
Having said that, I think that the article overlooks the fact that Love is a gamble that the back end of the season continues. If his agent pushes too hard and it doesn’t go quite as well starting out, then he likely loses leverage. Conversely if he gets a contract and outplays it, we all know he will get a new one relatively quickly. Loves best positioning could easily be now. So I disagree with the article in that waiting only strengthens Love’s hand.
dobber
May 14, 2024 at 08:19 am
"A fascinating gamble by the Lions that also brings down the curtain on their period where the cap really wasn’t too much of an issue for them. "
The Packers' brass should be paying close attention to the Lions...they're going through what this roster will be going through shortly: a lot of young players needing to get paid...some that you'd like to keep will need to walk.
That said, the Goff situation is different in that he's already been extended once, and wasn't earning rookie contract money. Yes--big contract for a guy who can't get the job done when he's getting pressured.
Leatherhead
May 14, 2024 at 10:40 am
I've pointed out our situation in 2026. Tom, Walker, Watson, Doubs, Rhyan.....all starters on offense who'll be free agents after 2025.
My premise is that we pay Love to be our QB until he's 30. If he wins Super Bowls,fantastic. If he doesn't do it before he's 30, he's probably not going to do it after 30, and I'd look to trade him away then to the Jets.
The people around him...I'd extend Tom,first. We're probably going to have to choose between Watson and Doubs, and then next year, we'll have to choose between Wicks and Reed. You can only pay so many people, and that's why this year, and next, and maybe the next,are the best opportunities in the Love Window. After that, it's going to depend on who we can keep around him.
LLCHESTY
May 14, 2024 at 11:36 am
If Walker is playing LT at a high level you pay him 1st.
Leatherhead
May 14, 2024 at 12:35 pm
That's right Chesty. We should draft a LT with #25 and then put him at RG, or on the bench.
This is no longer about how good Walker is, it's about how good Morgan is.
LLCHESTY
May 14, 2024 at 12:52 pm
Once again, Walker was playing like a top 10 LT at the end of last season so unless he spends the off-season lying on his back eating Bon Bons the odds of Morgan beating him out at LT aren't great. If he plays this season at a top 10 LT level the spot is his.
Leatherhead
May 14, 2024 at 02:59 pm
Yes, he was playing like top10 LT. Yes, the Packers brass knew that. Yes, they spent #25 on a LT because they want to move him to RG.
[Sheeesh.
Coldworld
May 14, 2024 at 04:02 pm
They invested in a guy that can play LT, RT, and both guard positions. That doesn’t mean he’s automatically the best LT or that he starts out there.
If we have 3 starting Ts then we have options and he’s either a G or Tom is a C. The only relevance will be how future contract offers unwind. Heck they could both be Gs and Jenkins C. It’s the best 5 that repays the pick this year.
Simple. Not complex. Not one dimensional.
Leatherhead
May 14, 2024 at 07:14 pm
Coldworld, the only people talking about moving Tom to Center are people on message boards. And they didn't draft Morgan at #25 to play RG. There isn't going to be a huge shakeup to the line we finished the season with.
If everybody's healthy, when we line up in Brazil against the Eagles, it'll be Morgan-Jenkins-Myers-Rhyan-Tom.
Last year, they went with Walker over Nijman and let him learn on the job. I don't expect anything less than that for Morgan.
LLCHESTY
May 14, 2024 at 09:00 pm
Kind of like your prediction that Amari was going to be more productive than Romeo?
Coldworld
May 15, 2024 at 07:00 am
So IF Walker wins at LT, then under your logic we just sit Morgan or put him there anyway and sit a player better than our center or RG.
No. That makes no sense. It’s the kind of thinking that ought to get people fired. This is why the Packers, Gute, even Stenovich, have acknowledged that the objective is the best 5 and that some players have positional flexibility.
We are getting ahead of ourselves. We need to see how Walker, Morgan and others inside play and who stays healthy, but the idea that we are going to sideline a starter grade LT just because we have another ought to be risible if we have options to upgrade elsewhere. Sorry, but that’s not common sense at all when thought through.
Leatherhead
May 15, 2024 at 09:51 am
Why would the Packers draft Morgan at #25 if they didn't think he could beat out the incumbent?? That makes no sense.
Some people here think the Packers change their plan every day. They don't.
Leatherhead
May 15, 2024 at 12:44 pm
By my logic, CW, if Walker wins at LT, then the Packers made a mistake spending #25 on Morgan. This is about solidifying the LT spot for the next 5 years, and that's why they took Morgan....not to have him play RG.
Y'all keep thinking this is about Walker, and how well he played after Thanksgiving. It's not. Yes, it's nice that we could draft a guy in the 7th round and have two coaches you don't think are very good (Sten and Butkus) make him into a starter when we lost Bakhtiari. Many wanted Nijman put at LT, but the coaches decided to let Walker learn on the job. They helped him, and even rotated Nijman in with him, and by the end of the season he could do his job. Now we have him, and Nijman doesn't get a big contract from us.
By my logic, this is about the Love Window. QB, check, Left Tackle, check. RB, check, TE, check, WR, check. The Packers took Morgan to be the Left Tackle, they'll certainly give him every chance, and they'll let him learn on the job. If he can't do it, then it wasn't a very good pick.
Morgan and Tom will start at the tackles. Myers will be our Center. Jenkins will be the LG. Rhyan will be the RG. Walker will be a real good back up. This is a result of having a starter level backup T. It's called depth. The alternative is NOT having a starter-level backup at LT and getting your QB injured in Week 7.
I think this was a smart, well-thought-out move by the Packers. Going into this offseason, you'd know that Walker played the 2nd most important position on offense, and he didn't have anybody behind him. The Morgan pick solidifies the LT spot for the next four or five years....the Love Window.
You are correct, this is about who stays healthy.
jannesbjornson
May 15, 2024 at 08:38 am
Some of these guys will have trade value before they all arrive on a cut list. Asset Management.
stockholder
May 14, 2024 at 10:59 am
The Lions have a good team.
The 60s Packers had a good team and coach.
They only had to draft Bart Starr.
And went with a late pick Rookie.
Every good team has a back-up to keep winning.
So why over-pay average?
LLCHESTY
May 14, 2024 at 11:28 am
"They only had to draft Bart Starr."
You're really not even trying anymore. Starr was 1956 draft pick.
So lame.
WestCoastPackerBacker
May 14, 2024 at 05:38 pm
Got any evidence that "every good team has a back-up to keep winning?"
If you're talking about Love, he's far above average for the league in QB play. Second in scores behind only Dak. That's not average.
Coldworld
May 15, 2024 at 07:06 am
Well the Chiefs had Carson Wentz. The reality is that it’s w remedy unusual for a team to keep winning with a back up, particularly in the post season. Nick Foles was an outlier both generally and in terms of his career. The key to keeping winning is health.
LeotisHarris
May 14, 2024 at 08:33 am
Reading the first and last sentences of this word salad made me want to shove an ice pick in my ear, and everything written in between didn't do much to alleviate that feeling.
PSA: it's best to just walk past The Corner. Don't even slow down.
Bitternotsour
May 14, 2024 at 09:15 am
yes. i came for the comments on a contract negotiation none of us have any insight into, and the wonderful naivety of people who are willing to ascribe to Jordan a sacrifice of his salary that they in their own lives would never similarly make.
hmm, it's time for my bonus, I think I'll just forgo the money this year so my bosses and the company get to keep a little extra... high end comedy that.
LambeauPlain
May 14, 2024 at 10:59 am
Thank you, Leotis...
I was struggling to understand this: "That’s why the Packers need to sign him to an extension soon, but if Love should be perfectly content to wait."
Always proof your written work...better still, have another proof it for you.
LLCHESTY
May 14, 2024 at 01:12 pm
You should be used to Stockholder's comments by now!😉
stockholder
May 14, 2024 at 02:59 pm
You just don't see the warnings.
Praise won't bring home the Lombardi.
TKWorldWide
May 14, 2024 at 08:35 pm
Thank you for the brilliant warning that the Packers might not win the Super Bowl, oh wise fortune teller.
Enlighten us: what does it feel like to carry the burden of being so much smarter than everyone else?
LLCHESTY
May 14, 2024 at 08:54 pm
He also claimed Vegas is never wrong. If that's the case why are there people in Vegas that call themselves professional gamblers?
Ferrari-Driver
May 14, 2024 at 09:35 am
Regarding Love: The quarterback position is by far the single most important position in professional football that translates to wins. So far Love has proven he possess the physical talent to be a franchise quarterback and during the last half of the season he proved that he has the mental requirements to do the job. I like the way Love handles himself on and off the field and it's always a plus when you have a player on your team that is likeable as opposed to being otherwise. I my humble opinion I think it is time to...
PAY THE MAN
greengold
May 14, 2024 at 09:51 am
Ditto.
greengold
May 14, 2024 at 09:47 am
I think Jordan Love is going to be that dude walking into Day 1 of TC with a newly minted deal. It would be a smart move for the Packers. The price will only go up the more they wait, and we all know it won't be long before that deal is topped by another team for a lesser talent.
While waiting might seem a more measured approach, and I get it, I think Gutekunst still wants to add another FA talent. Maybe a higher priced veteran for either side of the trenches? Having Love's deal firmly in place gives the Packers flexibility in other deals they might want to make happen.
I mean, they could wind up extending Kenny Clark once Love's deal is signed, sealed & delivered. Can't believe he's only 28 years old...
Leatherhead
May 14, 2024 at 10:24 am
Love is 25, Cousins in 35. Love could sign a big $$ 5 year deal, then another one at 30, and then another one at 35.
The Packers will extend Love until he's 30 at least. I'm not worried at all that it won't happen. Love benefits enormously from being a part of this organization, as opposed to some other places he could have gone. He'd be a damn fool to start all over with another group of people because of the money.
LLCHESTY
May 14, 2024 at 11:57 am
The Lions broke the bank at three positions this off-season; QB, WR and RT. Sewell is the only one that's a sure fire top 5 at his position but not sure about giving him a $28 million AAV. What's crazier is the guarantees; $170M to Goff, $85M to Sewell and $77M to St Brown. They're doing some good things but raising the salary bar at 3 positions in one off-season might not be the best decision.
The other interesting thing that happened yesterday is a safety is now the highest paid DB in the league. Winfield got $4 million a year more than McKinney with a lot more guaranteed.
LambeauPlain
May 14, 2024 at 12:09 pm
That is amazing! Gold is a safe investment. Now Safety is becoming a golden investment.
Good that Gute drafted all that Safety gold in Bullard, Oladapo, and Williams at way below market prices. And purchased the services of Xavier before the price run up!
jhtobias
May 14, 2024 at 12:04 pm
For those on here trying to lowball or underpay not extend Jordan Love here are the two options.
1. Trade him which will bring an incredible haul, but thrn you start over at quarterback from ground zero. You have clifton and Pratt .
2. Play the year out he is either bitter holds out or destroys it and you pay him 60 million plus a year next yr.
If ypu are complaining about his money you donnot get to talk about anything that goes wrong if he is not extended . Your voice is not worth the sound coming out of your mouths . This is what you wanted
Leatherhead
May 14, 2024 at 12:39 pm
Well, if he's the kind of guy who'd get bitter and petty, we should have figured that out before we drafted him. He's not that guy.
A reasonable accommodation between reasonable parties will occur.
Bitternotsour
May 14, 2024 at 01:14 pm
There is no need for conjecture, there are professionals involved and they will do the business. Everyone rolled the dice last year to get to this point. Both sides have an end game. Whatever the outcome, it's not our money, and we don't get to vote on it.
WestCoastPackerBacker
May 14, 2024 at 05:46 pm
Aaron Jones wasn't a guy who wold "get bitter and petty" either. But it took him one day to sign with the purple team and start to look down on the Packers. A lot of former Packers didn't like the offers they were given and it stuck with them. Davante was one of them. He was so hurt by the original low ball offer he went to the Raiders even though GB was willing to match.
Nobody's that guy until they feel disrespected for the amount of work they have put in and the production they've had on the field.
We've only seen Love on his first contract. Players change over time. Everyone is thrilled just to 1) be drafted, 2) make the roster, 3) see the field. And then when they make the most of their opportunity, you reward them and show the younger guys what awaits them if they work hard and play at a high level. If you don't reward them at a high level, there's a good chance the relationship breaks down.
Leatherhead
May 14, 2024 at 07:19 pm
Touche. Valid point(s).
NitschkeFan
May 14, 2024 at 08:35 pm
jhtobias - What?? Only those 2 possible outcomes?
3a. "Play the year out" and he stinks and the team goes 6-11 and we have dodged a bullet with a huge contract.
3b. "Play the year out" and he plays like the 14th best QB. Maybe then you sign him to a Baker Mayfield contract an hope for better.
3c . "Play the year out" and he plays like a top 5 QB ... but they can't reach an new contract that both sides like. Franchise tag him. That is why the tag exists. If he doesn't like it he can lump it. Then you trade him or he plays or he sits out a season.
Many possible outcomes if he plays out the year.
NitschkeFan
May 14, 2024 at 08:37 pm
jhtobias - What?? Only those 2 possible outcomes?
3a. "Play the year out" and he stinks and the team goes 6-11 and we have dodged a bullet with a huge contract.
3b. "Play the year out" and he plays like the 14th best QB. Maybe then you sign him to a Baker Mayfield contract an hope for better.
3c . "Play the year out" and he plays like a top 5 QB ... but they can't reach an new contract that both sides like. Franchise tag him. That is why the tag exists. If he doesn't like it he can lump it. Then you trade him or he plays or he sits out a season.
Many possible outcomes if he plays out the year without a contract extension in place.
LambeauPlain
May 14, 2024 at 12:22 pm
NFL released strength of schedule today. Packers 5th most difficult. Browns most difficult, Falcons the "least".
Yet the overall variance from most to least difficult is just 10%.
In the parity directed NFL, the trip from worst to first (and vice versa) can be a very quick errand with good coaches and personnel acquisition and development.
Wausau Packman
May 14, 2024 at 12:33 pm
I believe that much of Love's success is due to coaching. Tom Clemens has proven that he can take a good quarterback and make him HOF worthy!
With Tom reaching the twilight if his career, if Jordan leaves the Packers in a few years, we likely won't be able to rely on having a world class Q-back coach to develop our next Q-back. That's scary, and that's why Love irreplaceable.
Leatherhead
May 14, 2024 at 12:38 pm
Much of Love's success is due to the support he's received from the organization, including very good coaching and a good team around him.
How is Tom, in his third year, reaching the twilight of his career?
T7Steve
May 14, 2024 at 01:05 pm
He means Tom C. Not the lineman. 71 years old.
Bitternotsour
May 14, 2024 at 01:17 pm
Dude, coaching, really? You can have a really gifted mechanic tune up your 1963 Rambler Classic, and it's going to always be a well tuned Rambler Classic.
Jordan Love wasn't created in a coaching lab, they may fine tune him, but that young man came in bearing unique skills.
Leatherhead
May 14, 2024 at 07:22 pm
Oh,BNS, don't disparage coaching. The Packers had how many HOFers on that 1 win 1958 team?
It would have been interesting to see Justin Fields and Jordan Love if they had been drafted by the other team. Fields would probably be a decent QB, and Love would be.......?
jhtobias
May 14, 2024 at 01:31 pm
If the packers dont want to pay the 53 to 55 million a year becuase that is what the going rate is o.k.
1. If it is the packers not wanting to do it fine. Jordan is under contract but he should demand a no tag cluase after the year sense the packers wont pay market value. Fair trade off
2. If it is jordan wanting to continue to bet in himself . Ok. But then he needs to accept it works both ways tag clause intact also his matket value migjt dip.
Should be intersting