Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love hinted at a possible holdout for the upcoming season during his media appearance at OTAs on Tuesday afternoon. Love’s presence at the voluntary workout is promising that the two sides are on good terms, but the quarterback would not rule out the possibility he might not play for the 2024 season.
Jordan Love is in a prove-it deal for this season
The Packers extended Love last season to a “prove it” deal after declining to pick up his fifth-year option. Love is guaranteed to make $13.5 million but has a chance to earn $22.5 million with incentives. Following a 2023 season where Love progressed dramatically, especially in the back half of the season, Love wants a serious payday.
The Green Bay Packers might have to give Love a major payday
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
As previously discussed on WSH, Michael Giniitti with Spotrac told Matt Schneidman with The Athletic that he thinks the Packers would have to extend Love in the ballpark of what Justin Herbert earned, and they might have to bend a few of their in-house rules:
Ginnitti thinks part of the gamble the Packers will have to take on is to eschew their “no base salary guarantee” way of doing things:
“In this regard, it’s not hard to envision a four-year, $200 million extension for Love (five years, $211 million total value, including $151.5 million practically guaranteed over the next three or three and a half seasons).
Of course, this kind of guarantee structure would involve Green Bay shifting away from its rigid “no base salary guarantee” policy, but with most other teams going this route for their blockbuster quarterback contract, the Packers are likely next to follow suit.”
Love hinted at a possible holdout
Reporters asked Love several questions about his contract situation on Tuesday afternoon. Love didn’t want to talk too much about his contract situation but said his agent hadn’t told him to stay away from the Packers facility during off-season workouts. Love was asked if he’d feel comfortable playing for the Packers this season if a new deal wasn’t in place.
We’ll see. I don’t know yet. We’ll see,” Love said.
Again, the fact Love is showing up to voluntary workouts is a good sign that he’ll be with the team this fall. Other players in the league wanting new contracts, like San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, are utilizing their leverage by not showing up for voluntary OTAs.
However, if a deal isn’t done by mandatory OTAs, things could change between Love and the Packers—the difference between $13.5 million and $50 million is too wide of a gap for Love to ignore.
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