No quarterback competition, no drama, no contract talks. It's an impressively quiet offseason in regards to the most important position in football for the Green Bay Packers, especially compared to what has happened throughout the 2020s.
Back in 2020, the Packers took Jordan Love in the first round of the draft and created a monstrous controversy with incumbent starter Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Famer ended up winning the NFL MVP award in each of the following two years, but it certainly wasn't a calm period for the franchise.
In 2021, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Draft Day that Rodgers was unhappy with his situation with the team. The path for reconciliation included a trade for his friend Randall Cobb. In 2022, the Packers were forced to give Rodgers a new three-year, $150.8 million deal, which was essentially a one-year, $101.5 million extension — it was basically the first time a team had to frame the deal in a way for it not to look absurd.
A year later, the Packers would trade that contract and Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. It was months and months of conversations around the trade compensation, leverage, and what the deal would look like. Ultimately, Green Bay received two second-round picks (one of which had the potential to be a first-rounder, until Rodgers got hurt) and a first-round swap. It was also Jordan Love's first year as a full-time starter.
Last year, things were already calmer. Love had established himself as a good quarterback and had a flashing finish to his first starting season. However, it was necessary to extend him. The Packers eventually did it, reaching a four-year, $220 million deal. The backup quarterback position was also a concern, with an infamous battle between Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt.
This offseason, after years and years of tension, everything is decided. Jordan Love is the starter and is under contract for four more seasons, and Malik Willis is a solid backup. The big question is who will be QB3 between Clifford and Taylor Elgersma.
It gives Jordan Love more space to grow as a player and as a leader.
"Obviously, he's played a lot of ball and along with that, has gained a lot of confidence," head coach Matt LaFleur said about Love. "He's certainly comfortable in helping lead others and tell them what to do. He's a coach on the field. He knows this offense as well as anybody in regards to the details and what we're trying to get accomplished, and I think that he articulates that well to the other players."
Initially, it was a tough transition for Love taking over from a Hall of Famer — the young quarterback wanted to make sure he was playing as his best individually. Now, he is better established as a passer, which allows him to be a leader and help his teammates to a higher degree.
"It was a little bit more last year," LaFleur added about Love's growth as a leader. "His first year when he was starting, he was just making sure that he was doing his job to the best of his ability, although his job can be affected by everybody around him. That's just the game of football. We always talk about all 11 and doing your one eleventh. But I would say even more so this year than I've seen in the past up to this point. He's been pretty vocal, and that's gonna serve us well."
Finally, the Packers have peace at quarterback. And Jordan Love is the reason for it.
-1746580703-q80.webp "Cincinnati Bengals Urged to Sign $49 Million All-Pro Guard Brandon Scherff to Protect Joe Burrow")
-1742443890-q80.webp "‘He’s Overthinking Things Instead Of Just Playing’: Scott Laughton Remains Pointless With Maple Leafs, Craig Berube Urges Forward To ‘Loosen Up’")
