QB Love optimistic extension will happen by camp

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jordan Love has reason to think he will have a contract extension finalized with the Green Bay Packers by the time they open training camp on July 22.

What made Love so optimistic when he spoke Tuesday on the first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp?

“It’s what I’ve heard,” Love said.

Given that Love said he likes to be involved and wants to be in the loop on developments, there’s reason to think they’ve made significant progress on an extension. When asked whether things will pick up further after this week’s minicamp, Love said: “Yeah, I think they should.”

This comes just days after Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke of a similar timeline on Milwaukee radio station 97.3 The Game.

“We’re in those conversations right now,” Gutekunst told the station. “Both parties want the same thing. We’d like to get this done before training camp for sure.”

During Love’s first season as a starter last year, he played on a mini extension of his rookie deal. Instead of picking up the fifth-year option for 2024, the Packers signed him to an extension last May that included more up-front money in the form of an $8,788,655 signing bonus, which upped his average pay per year to $13.5 million.

At the time, the Packers weren’t sure whether Love would be the long-term replacement for Aaron Rodgers. But after he threw for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns while leading the Packers to the NFC divisional round of the playoffs, they had their answer. However, no deal could be done immediately after last season because league rules prevent a second extension from being done in the 12 months following the initial extension of an original contract.

Love is now in line to become one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league after the latest deal to get done was Jared Goff’s extension with the Lions, which was worth an average of $53 million per season. Without a new deal, Love would make $11 million for the 2024 season.

Love has been a full participant in the offseason program, which concludes on Wednesday with a second minicamp practice.

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