Packers have big decision to make on Jordan Love’s fifth-year option

Jordan Love enters year four with the Green Bay Packers in 2023, and we still don’t know what the plan is for the former first-round pick.

Much like Aaron Rodgers, Love has been the Packers’ backup quarterback for three years, sitting and learning behind a future Hall-of-Famer.

Rodgers finally got his opportunity in year four, with Brett Favre traded to the New York Jets.

History could repeat itself. Rodgers may get traded this offseason, and the Jets could be an ideal landing spot.

But Rodgers may also return to Green Bay. That would leave Love in a tough spot.

And also the Packers.

This offseason, the Packers must determine whether to pick up Love’s fifth-year option.

Currently, he is under contract for one more season. By exercising the option, they would add another year before he becomes a free agent.

That might sound good, but it comes at a price. A fully-guaranteed price.

Over The Cap projects that it would cost the Packers $19.56 million in 2024, and it would be fully guaranteed. That’s a big commitment.

Especially for a player who has barely seen the field during the regular season and still may not in 2023.

But if Green Bay believes in Love, it should be an easy choice. They have to pick up the option and show that commitment.

Making it difficult is Rodgers’ contract. The Packers would need to manage both somehow. Even if Rodgers is no longer on the team in 2024, they will likely be left with a dead cap hit unless Rodgers leaves this offseason and they take it all in 2023.

The other option with Love is far riskier.

If they decline the option, Love would become a free agent in little over a year. If he remains the backup next season, the Packers would need to figure out whether to give him a long-term extension before he even becomes a starter.

Worse yet, they could be forced to use the franchise tag if he doesn’t re-sign, which would be far more expensive than the fifth-year option.

It’s a difficult decision.

Rodgers’ future remains uncertain and Love continues to wait. The Packers have opted to stick with Rodgers in recent years, but they now face a big decision this offseason. One that could significantly shape the short-term future of the franchise.