Packers' extension for Jordan Love a win-win contract compromise

The Green Bay Packers administered a Rorschach test on Tuesday … err, signed an extension with Jordan Love instead of picking up his fifth-year option.

In record time, takes flew. This was “proof” that the Packers didn’t truly believe in Love as their long-term starter while simultaneously demonstrating a lack of him-ness by Love who refused to bet on himself. Or maybe, just maybe, this was a shrewd move by a team that wanted to provide some runway for its young quarterback, one who would likely jump at the chance for more money now plus the potential for another larger payout later.

It doesn’t have to be that deep. Love has one career NFL start. He lacks leverage. Oh no. Here we go again with this, right?

But it’s true. The greatest leverage Love had in these negotiations stemmed from the most recent example of another franchise that decided not to pick up its young quarterback’s option. That signal-caller, former No. 6 overall pick Daniel Jones, was decidedly mid in a season where the New York Giants wildly outperformed expectations and the front office essentially had to pay him a monster extension.

Presumably, Love and his camp would go for that if given the chance. Likewise, the Packers wanted to avoid this fate worse than Jones on a megadeal (death would be getting off easy).

If the Packers hadn’t picked up the option and Love had delivered a Jones-level performance, the circumstances around the exit of Aaron Rodgers might force the team into a narrative corner. Such a scenario might obligate them to show financial faith in Love in a way his play wouldn’t quite warrant much the same way a surprise (and lucky) playoff run for the Giants forced their hand with Jones. In a vacuum, I would be far from convinced Jones deserved his four-year, $160 million deal, but narratively it tracks given the trajectory of New York and the team’s hunger to be relevant again.

Narratives can “story” a team right into risky (read: bad) financial decisions.

If they believed there was a chance Love would play well -- Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst has said on multiple occasions he believes Love to be a starting QB as have teammates, and recent reports pegged the team as believing Love would “ball out” this season -- then the option offers easy insurance against having to pay for that production in 2024, forestalling it until ‘25.

So, why not just pick up the option?