Jordan Love was one of the NFL‘s breakout stars in 2023 in his first season as the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback. After throwing for over 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns with one of the youngest offensive supporting casts in the NFL, Love went from an unknown replacement to Aaron Rodgers to becoming one of the league’s best quarterbacks.
Love was so impressive in 2023 that one former NFL general manager recently said he would take him over any quarterback not named Patrick Mahomes moving forward.
Former NFL GM Has Jordan Love No. 2 After Patrick Mahomes
While it’s basically unanimous that Mahomes would be the first pick for anyone, former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum says he is taking Love second, and it isn’t a debate for him.
"If we were drafting #NFL players, I think you and I would agree that we'd take Patrick Mahomes no. 1, but I'm taking Jordan Love no. 2… Who would you take before Jordan Love in terms of youth, ability and I think his future limitless."
–@RealTannenbaum loves (Jordan) Love pic.twitter.com/lP5ix0piLk
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) May 31, 2024
“If we were drafting NFL players … I’m taking Jordan Love No. 2,” Tannenbaum said on “The Dan Patrick Show.”
“I’ve really been thinking about this a lot. Who would you take before Jordan Love in terms of youth, ability … and I think his future is limitless.”
Tannenbaum was an NFL executive for the New York Jets from 1998-2012, working his way up from director of player contracts to general manager and senior vice president of football operations. He was also executive vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins from 2015-2018 before becoming an analyst and insider on ESPN.
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“One hundred percent, and I’m not even thinking about it,” Tannenbaum said. “You could have anyone else but you give me Jordan Love, and I’m set for the next decade.”
In the initial question, Patrick suggested Trevor Lawrence or Love, but Tannenbaum shot down Lawrence quickly before sharing that he’d take Love over anyone not named Patrick Mahomes.
Tannenbaum’s praise of Love goes even further than just taking him over Lawrence. Some other big-time quarterbacks that he’d take Love over include Josh Allen, C.J. Stroud, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts. There’s also Dak Prescott, but youth would take him out of the equation.
Love’s Career Stats With the Green Bay Packers So Far
Coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft, Love’s expectations were a mixed bag. He was a surprise pick in the first round by the Packers, who already had Rodgers at quarterback. The veteran QB went on to win back-to-back MVPs, making the pick an even bigger question.
However, the Rodgers saga eventually came to an end, and the Love saga began, with many hoping this would turn out the same way the Aaron Rodgers-Brett Favre situation turned out.
Well, so far it looks pretty good. In his first season as a starter, Love started slow. However, things picked up, and he was dominant over the back half of the season. He finished the season with 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. In his career as a whole, he has passed for 4,765 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
Dontayvion Wicks puts the Packers ahead!
📺: #CHIvsGB on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/X0vcyHUoyR pic.twitter.com/Y1fZ4ntm17— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2024
In addition to his stats, he also led the Packers to a 9-8 record that snuck them into the postseason as the seventh seed in the NFC. To make matters even better, he led the team to an upset victory over the Dallas Cowboys, marking the first time a seventh-seed team has ever beaten a second-seeded team.
In that postseason game, he went 16-for-21 passing for 272 yards and three touchdowns. The next week the Packers came up just short, 24-21, against the San Francisco 49ers. In that game, he passed for 194 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Love Poised To Receive Monster Contract Extension
With Love spending years on the bench behind Rodgers, that also means he burned his rookie contract. Before 2023, instead of picking up his fifth-year option, the Packers and Love came to terms on a one-year extension worth $13.5 million with $13 million guaranteed. As a result, he’s set to be a free agent following the 2024 season.
With just the year left on his deal, that puts Love at the top of the list of quarterbacks likely to get a new deal. He’s joined by Tua Tagovailoa, Dak Prescott, and Trevor Lawrence, among other potential candidates.
SEE MORE: Love Among Top 2025 NFL Free Agent QBs
Where Love’s new contract could land is a big question mark, since he’s only started one year. However, his strong play likely earned him a big payday. Currently, the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL is Joe Burrow, who makes $55 million per year. He’s followed by Jared Goff ($53 million) and Justin Herbert ($52.5 million).
While he may not get the most money in the NFL, it’s unlikely he’d sign for anything below Jalen Hurts‘ $51 million per year. Considering his upside, he could even sign a deal for more than Goff, who is four years older than Love. Ultimately, it’s a waiting game.
According to Spotrac, Love’s market value is $47.9 million on a four-year, $191.5 million deal. However, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he made much more than that, especially with the rising quarterback market.