3 franchise-altering decisions Packers have to make this season

1. Should the Packers give Jordan Love a contract extension?

The Packers' long-term success comes down to Jordan Love. Building a talented roster and coaching staff around him can take Green Bay to a championship, but only if Love is good enough. The Houston Texans don't have the league's best roster, but rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is playing at an MVP level, which is why Houston already has more wins than all of last season.

Love needs a chance to prove himself. He has only made 10 career starts, and one of them was two years ago. However, the Packers don't have forever. They need to make a decision on his contract relatively soon.

It wasn't a problem during Aaron Rodgers' first year as a starter in 2008. By this stage of the season, the Packers had already seen enough, handing Rodgers a new five-year deal. They aren't in the same position with Love. Not yet, at least.

Green Bay signed Love to a one-year extension in the offseason, ensuring he remains under contract through 2024. The Packers don't have to decide yet, but if they do nothing, Love would enter the final year of his deal next season. That doesn't happen often and would be far from ideal for Love or the Packers.

But Green Bay can only give him a long-term extension if the team fully believes him. In March, the New York Giants handed Daniel Jones a four-year deal worth $160 million. That already looks like a mistake, especially if the Giants land a top-two pick with the chance to draft Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. There's no way the Packers can give Love a similar deal anytime soon.

If they don't believe in Love long-term and opt against giving him a new contract, it's time to search for a new quarterback.

The Packers will give themselves at least until the end of the season, but sooner rather than later, they need to make a decision on Love.

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