BREAKING: Former Green Bay Packers Lineman Mark Tauscher Drops Major Truth Bomb on Jordan Love Extension
The Green Bay Packers are poised to be one of the NFL’s most exciting teams this season. Despite a slow and inconsistent start in 2023, quarterback Jordan Love hit his stride, finishing with a 64.1% completion rate, 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 96.1 passer rating. Notably, in the final 10 games, Love threw 21 touchdowns against just three interceptions, boasting a passer rating over 108.
Love’s impressive performance is a significant boost for the Packers, who took a considerable gamble by drafting him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and later trading away future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to give Love the starting role. This gamble has paid off, with Love proving his capability as a leading quarterback.
However, the Packers face one last critical decision before the training camp begins: extending Love to a substantial contract. Given his success and potential, securing Love with a long-term deal would solidify the team’s confidence in him and ensure stability at the quarterback position.
The Green Bay Packers and Jordan Love Have Seen Other Quarterbacks Sign Massive Extensions This Offseason
The quarterback market in the NFL is experiencing significant inflation. Before the NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons awarded Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract despite him coming off a torn Achilles in 2023. While Cousins has a Pro Bowl pedigree, his age and recovery from a serious injury introduce uncertainty about his future performance.
Additionally, the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars have secured their quarterbacks with substantial contract extensions. Jared Goff received a four-year, $212 million deal from the Lions, equating to $53 million per year. Trevor Lawrence secured an even larger contract, a five-year deal worth $275 million, making his annual salary $55 million, tied with Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals for the highest in the league.
At the start of the offseason, it was anticipated that Jordan Love might command an annual salary in the $46-48 million range. However, given the escalating market dynamics, the growing consensus is that Love’s annual salary could exceed $50 million. This upward trend reflects the increasing value placed on quarterback talent and the Packers’ need to act swiftly to extend Love’s contract before training camp.
Former Green Bay Packers Offensive Lineman Mark Tauscher Thinks Jordan Love Should Get as Much as Trevor Lawrence
Mark Tauscher, former Packers offensive lineman, emphasized the importance of looking ahead when considering Jordan Love’s contract extension. Speaking on WTMJ, Tauscher highlighted that Love’s future potential and recent performance should dictate his upcoming salary, rather than his past achievements. He pointed out that Love’s strong finish to the 2023 season, where he performed among the best quarterbacks in the league, sets a high bar for his contract expectations.
Tauscher referenced Trevor Lawrence’s record-setting contract, which averages $55 million annually over five years, as a benchmark for Love’s negotiations. He argued that the Packers should move swiftly to secure Love with a similar deal now, given their ample salary cap space and the escalating costs of elite quarterback talent in the NFL. Tauscher drew parallels to Patrick Mahomes’ landmark contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, noting how quickly quarterback salaries have risen and how Mahomes’ deal, once the highest in the league, now ranks lower due to subsequent contracts.
A lot of Jordan Love contract talks the #Packers need to not Dak or cousins this thing up. And they won’t IMO
— Mark Tauscher (@MarkTauscher65) June 6, 2024
In Tauscher’s view, signing Love to a lucrative extension benefits Green Bay immediately by solidifying their quarterback position and secures long-term stability amidst rising costs in the quarterback market.