As a first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers, quarterback Jordan Love will soon sign on the dotted line of a fully guaranteed, four-year contract with a fifth-year team option.
Over the Cap provides projections for each draft pick, based on the rookie wage scale as stated in the CBA. Love was the 26th overall selection in the 2020 draft.
According to OTC, Love’s four-year deal will be worth almost $12.4 million, with a signing bonus of almost $6.6 million.
Here’s the full projection over four years:
| Year | Base | Signing | Cap hit |
| 2020 | $610,000 | $1,641,540 | $2,251,540 |
| 2021 | $1,172,885 | $1,641,540 | $2,814,425 |
| 2022 | $1,735,770 | $1,641,540 | $3,377,310 |
| 2023 | $2,298,655 | $1,641,540 | $3,940,195 |
| Total | $5,817,310 | $6,566,160 | $12,383,470 |
The deal averages almost $3.1 million per year, a reasonable amount for a quarterback expected to be a backup for at least the first two years. If the Packers move on from Aaron Rodgers following the 2021 season, Love will represent a cheap starter at quarterback for at least two more years.
After Year 3, however, the Packers will have to decide whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option on the deal. The new CBA states that when exercised, the fifth year becomes fully guaranteed, and the value of the fifth-year option will be based on position and performance, not just draft slot in the first round. Given that Love is a quarterback, his fifth-year option will not be cheap, regardless of whether he plays during the first three years or not.
One other note: Trading up from No. 30 to No. 26 to draft Love increased the total value of the contract by a little over $1 million, including a nearly $900,000 increase in signing bonus.
Overall, the Packers will spend just under $8 million in cap space to sign their nine-player draft class, including Love.
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