What is Jordan Love’s trade value for the Packers?

You guessed it; the Green Bay Packers are once again going to have question marks surrounding the quarterback position this offseason.

What the future holds for Aaron Rodgers isn’t quite clear, although recently, both Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst made it well-known that they want him back for the 2023 season, and the contract extension Rodgers signed in the offseason affirms that. Green Bay also has to decide whether or not to pick up Jordan Love’s fifth-year option for 2024 as well.

As I wrote recently, if the Green Bay Packers want both quarterbacks back for the 2023 season, they could absolutely make that work, as Love will still be on his rookie deal with a relatively inexpensive cap hit of less than $4 million. However, while much of the attention is focused on what Rodgers may want or what the Packers’ organization wants to do, what about Love?

Love has been sitting in limbo for a few seasons now, and even as he is on the cusp of entering the final year of his rookie contract, there is still no clear timetable for when he will be the guy here in Green Bay. Just as Rodgers no longer wanted to sit behind Brett Favre following his third NFL season, perhaps Love will feel similarly and try to force his way out.

Of the options that the Packers have at the quarterback position, this isn’t one that has been discussed really at all, but it’s an option that Jason Wilde does believe is in play.

"“I had a really great conversation with Jordan [Love] on Friday afternoon,” Wilde said on ESPN Milwaukee. “I think he very clearly, even though he wouldn’t flat-out say it, he does not want to sit for another year. So, if we get to year four, and Rodgers does come back, I am fairly confident that he will seek a trade.”"

We don’t yet know if this will come to fruition, but if it does, what is Love’s trade value from the Packers’ perspective?

For one, if the Packers don’t want to trade him, they don’t have to. As already mentioned, Love is still under contract in 2023 and doesn’t have much leverage, either. One would think that Green Bay wants to keep him around as well, given his familiarity with Matt LaFleur’s offense and that Rodgers’ availability is seemingly year to year despite signing a three year extension.

When it comes to Love’s future with the team, recently GM Brian Gutekunst talked about how the Packers have seen enough of Love in practice to make a decision on his fifth-year option—despite very little in-game action. However, the rest of the NFL hasn’t. The rest of the NFL has 80 career pass attempts and some preseason games to go off of.

Love’s contract is no longer favorable for an acquiring team, either. There is one year of team control remaining, plus that fifth-year option that will be in the $20 million range in 2024. I can’t imagine that teams are going to be willing to give up a premium draft pick to get a relatively unknown player on a one-year deal with an option for a second season that comes with a $20 million cap hit.

The best case scenario for the Packers, in my opinion, if they were to even entertain offers, might be a Day 3 pick. Love has little experience, an expiring contract, and a fairly large cap hit if a team wants to pick up his option–none of which is a recipe for a strong offer.

This, of course, is all just speculation at this time. But if Jordan Love wants the opportunity to play, who could blame him? The Packers have been stuck between trying to win it all while still planning for the future for a few years now. At some point, decisions have to be made. With that said, Love has very little leverage to force his way out if Rodgers does return.