The Detroit Lions locked up their starting quarterback, Jared Goff, to a four-year contract extension worth $212 million with $170 million guaranteed. They have no quarterback contract concerns heading into training camp. One of their division rivals, however, does, at least to an extent.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is opting not to practice until a new contract is worked out. One key note to keep in mind here is that this is not a full-blown holdout. Love reported to camp Sunday with the rest of the veterans and will take part in team meetings. He just won’t practice until his contract is taken care of. Love is entering a contract year after he signed a one-year extension last offseason that effectively acted as his fifth-year option, just much cheaper. Love is set to make just $10.5 million this season.
“I feel we’re close,” Gutekunst said. Of Love’s practice absence, he added, “Not unexpected and we’ll work to get it done. Hopefully he won’t miss too much time.”
Green Bay did the deal as there were still questions about Love and if he was ready to take over for Aaron Rodgers. Love went on to become one of the best quarterbacks last season, arguably the best in the second half of the season and led the Packers to a playoff berth and a dominating road win over the No. 2 seed Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round.
Love now wants to be paid among the top quarterbacks after the market exploded again this offseason. Goff’s extension averages $53 million per year while Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence matched Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow with a $55 million average. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa are also waiting in the wings for a new deal.
A deal does seem imminent and this will all blow over quickly in Green Bay. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting note that Love is going to “hold out”.