Jordan Love Rumors: Packers Want 'Cleaner' Contract Talks with QB After Aaron Rodgers

The Green Bay Packers are taking lessons they learned from their previous contract negotiations with Aaron Rodgers and applying them to their talks with Jordan Love.

On the Saturday morning edition of SportsCenter, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler explained the Packers want a "cleaner situation" with Love as they continue to negotiate a new deal:

"The market is what it is, that big number, he's probably going to have to be in that class. GM Brian Gutekunst wants to get something done before training camp. Probably a little bit of pressure on him after the way Aaron Rodgers' situation went years ago. They want a cleaner situation for his contract."

Coming off back-to-back MVP awards in 2020 and 2021, Rodgers negotiated an extension with the club. There was some speculation he could leave the Packers following their playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, but he confirmed he would be returning to the organization in 2022.

As talks dragged on closer to the start of free agency, Fowler reported at the time the Packers "decided to pause most business" until they resolved Rodgers' situation. He officially signed a three-year, $150.8 million deal on March 15, one day before free agency opened.

Things between the Packers and Love seem to be in a good place right now. He was present for OTAs and mandatory minicamp. The 25-year-old told reporters on Tuesday he's "heard" a long-term deal could be in place before the start of training camp in July.

Love signed a one-year extension worth up to $22.5 million in March 2023. The Packers were able to get the deal done rather than pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal.

It was a shrewd business move for the Packers because Love was entering his first full season as their starting quarterback after being a first-round draft pick in 2020. He emerged as a star in 2023 and now has a bargain contract for next season.

The market for Love was likely set on Thursday when Trevor Lawrence agreed to a five-year, $275 million extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars that includes $200 million guaranteed and $142 million fully guaranteed.

Lawrence's deal ties Joe Burrow for the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL by total value and average annual salary ($55 million). Burrow got more in total guarantees ($219 million) and fully guaranteed money ($146.5 million).

Love led the Packers to the NFC Divisional Round last season. He threw for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns and completed 64.2 percent of his attempts in 17 starts.