Recent QB developments are just another reason to pay Jordan Love

Two big pieces of news have come out on the quarterback front over the last few days. First, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who has only made the Pro Bowl as an alternate once in 2022, inked a five-year, $275 million contract that includes $142 million in money that is fully guaranteed. Second, the Atlanta Falcons were given a slap on the wrist for tampering with quarterback Kirk Cousins in the 2024 offseason.

Both of those are just more reasons for the Green Bay Packers to sign quarterback Jordan Love to a contract as quickly as they possibly can.

Lawrence is now going to receive $55 million on an average per year basis, which ties Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow for the highest mark in league history. In third is Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who was the most recent quarterback to sign a megadeal before Lawrence. Goff is being paid an average of $53 million per year.

The price of quarterbacks is only going to continue to increase as time passes. The Packers’ opportunity to get Love on a deal before Lawrence set the bar at $55 million per year has now passed. In all reality, Green Bay is probably now looking at a minimum of $55 million per year, rather than Goff’s $53 million per year, on Love’s extension.

Still, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa are on expiring contracts — like Love. While the Cowboys don’t seem interested in giving Prescott a new deal before the 2024, the Dolphins and Tagovailoa’s camp are having conversations about an extension, which open up the possibility of another quarterback setting the bar just a little bit higher before Love’s deal is completed.

On the Cousins front, the Falcons only were penalized a fifth-round pick for talking directly to the quarterback during the “legal tampering period” in 2024 free agency. Yes, teams are allowed to talk to a player’s representation during that time, but they aren’t allowed to talk to players directly, which is a violation of the league’s rules. Teams have to wait until the new league year officially begins before they can talk to players directly or have players in on a visit.

That slap on the wrist sets a precedent. What if the Packers and Love can’t see eye to eye? If Love hits free agency, the NFL doesn’t have a leg to stand on of they want to severely punish another franchise for directly talking to Love as they poach him away from the Packers.

All the more reason for general manager Brian Gutekunst to get the job done and ink Love to a multi-year extension this offseason. Both sides seem to be optimistic that they’ll get a deal finished by the time training camp rolls around, but it’s time for the rubber to meet the road. There’s about a month between now and training camp. Pay the kid.