Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary (52) during an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
Many may be surprised to see a running back at the top of this list, but when stepping back to look at this Green Bay Packers team from top to bottom, Aaron Jones is the most valuable player on the Packers. When you think of loyalty in Green Bay, you think of the superstar running back known to many as “Showtyme.”
Before September, Love requests a contract extension from the Packers. As was previously mentioned on GH, Love was rumored to be earning close to $50 million annually from his next contract earlier in the summer. Love stated that he wouldn’t rule out holding out this season if he didn’t sign a contract deal, but he didn’t want to discuss his contract much at OTAs this spring:
Love faced a barrage of inquiries regarding his contract status during his Tuesday media visit at the Packers OTAs. Love stated he was not interested in discussing his contract in detail. When a reporter inquired as to whether Love would play for the Packers this autumn if a new agreement weren’t reached, Love would not commit to playing in the upcoming season.Almost everything the Green Bay Packers had planned to do this offseason has been completed. They strengthened a position that has been one of their main vulnerabilities over the past few years by signing Xavier McKinney, the top safety available as a free agent. In addition, they signed Josh Jacobs, the 2022 NFL rushing leader, who was the finest running back available as a free agent.
Many anticipated that Love and the Packers would consent to a contract extension as soon as he was able to once the offseason got underway. Estimates at the time put his new contract’s annual salary at $46-48 million. But since then, the quarterback market has changed.
Jared Goff recently signed a $212 million, four-year contract with the Detroit Lions. At the time of his agreement, he received the second-highest yearly compensation in the NFL, $53 million.
More recently, Trevor Lawrence received a hefty $275 million, five-year agreement from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lawrence will receive $55 million annually from this, tying Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals for the highest NFL salary.
In a recent episode of NFL Live on ESPN, analyst Louis Riddick argued that the Packers should not wait any longer to sign Love to his extension. He argued that the longer they wait, the more expensive he will be. And after all, Love is the future of their franchise.
