Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love sparked the stirring projection that he was going to be the next one to shake up the market, especially after Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence elevated the bar on QB contracts in recent years.
Sure enough, late on Friday evening, Love is now a $220 million passer. And his record-tying contract sparked strong responses across the NFL world.
Aaron Rodgers, AJ Dillon Among Notable Names Reacting to Jordan Love’s Massive Contract
Love agreed to a new four-year deal that, along with the $220 million total, includes $155 million in guaranteed money and will surpass $50 million annually. Love is now tied with Burrow and Lawrence as QBs who’ll earn a league-high $55 million a year off their deals.
Love earned his significant pay raise after guiding the Packers to the NFC Divisional Round in his first season handling full QB1 duties. However, multiple NFL personalities ranging from reporters to athletes delivered mixed reactions to Love’s massive contract.
ESPN NFL reporter Jeff Darlington used the words “merely fascinating” in detailing his reaction — which included him drawing parallels to Love’s fellow draft class member Tua Tagovailoa.
“This isn’t a judgment or a criticism. It is merely fascinating because Love and Tua got drafted on the same day…and got new contracts on the same day. But Love was drafted 21 spots after Tua. He has thrown 976 fewer passes & 7,874 fewer yards. He played in 26 fewer games. Lower passer rating, too,” Darlington began on X (formerly Twitter).
“And yet Love gets more coin…and it really isn’t surprising to anyone, either. All offseason, this was going to be the outcome. Fascinating case study into how the first four years can shape a projection for the next four years.”
Tagovailoa may have agreed to his own new deal on Friday, which was a team-record four-year, $212 million contract. But the Dolphins star, who got selected No. 5 overall in the famed 2020 class alongside Love, is still earning less yearly money compared to the Packers starter.
The new Top 8 annually paid QBs in the NFL
Love: $55M
Lawrence: $55M
Burrow: $55M
Tua: $53.1M
Goff: $53M
Herbert: $52.5M
Lamar: $52M
Hurts: $51MCombined playoff record: 16-17
Combined Super Bowls: 3
Combined Super Bowl wins: 0
Paying and hoping.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) July 27, 2024
However, Love’s Packers teammate AJ Dillon showed his “mood” on X after the running back learned about his teammate’s big contract.
Mood: 😁😁😁😁 let’s go pic.twitter.com/ZmpKFbMC9o
— AJ Dillon (@ajdillon7) July 27, 2024
Meanwhile, NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah not only congratulated Love on his deal but reminded fans of his analysis of the former Utah State QB, including writing this end quote: “The payoff could be huge.”
Congrats to Jordan Love! Here’s my predraft report 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/VWEjG2hXRD
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) July 27, 2024
Former Packer QB himself, Aaron Rodgers gave some advice to Love while talking with NFL Network at the channel’s annual “Back Together” event.
“Don’t spend it all in one place, but if you do, I still have a house in Green Bay that’s up for sale” he joked.
.@AaronRodgers12 gives a shout out to @jordan3love and an important message to @nyjets fans 🗣️ @BaldyNFL | @judybattista
📺: Back Together Weekend on @NFLNetwork, ABC, ESPN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/vTup76YqzC— NFL (@NFL) July 27, 2024
Who Could Challenge Love Next Financially?
With Love cashing in on the evolving QB market, there’s already online chatter of who could be next to receive a blockbuster deal — the kind that could surpass him or even Burrow and Lawrence.
ESPN’s Louis Riddick began by claiming three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes will see a change in his already immense 10-year, $450 million deal.
“Mahomes going to get an infinity dollars contract.”
But that prompted this answer from NFL Network personality Steve Wyche, who put down the next potential market shaker in the league.
“Brock Purdy will be a few rungs of infinity below that…” Wyche responded to Riddick.
The reigning NFC champion QB Purdy has shown he’s the future of the San Francisco 49ers, guiding the franchise to consecutive NFC title game appearances in his first two seasons in the league. But he delivered Pro Bowl numbers in his first stint as a full-time starter last year.
MORE: Simulate the NFL Season With PFN’s Playoff Predictor
Purdy is currently entering the third season of his rookie deal, which only pays him up to $3.7 million for four years. Spotrac is already predicting Purdy will earn $52.1 million annually for his next contract.
Regardless, Love sits alongside Burrow and Lawrence as QBs luring in the most yearly money ahead of the 2024 season. The next market mover will have to find a way to reel in $56 million to top all three.
