Brian Gutekunst said he wants to get Jordan Love's extension done before training camp, but he may want to speed up that process.
Love's asking price is rising by the day.
The Green Bay Packers have had the chance to extend Love's deal since the start of May, but a delay has potentially cost them millions of dollars per year. Since then, Jared Goff landed a new contract worth $53 million annually, going above previous projections for Love's extension. The Packers will likely need to exceed what the Detroit Lions paid Goff.
Now, the Jacksonville Jaguars have thrown another wrench in the Packers' plans.
It would've made sense for the Packers to get ahead of the other big-money quarterback extensions coming this summer. First, there was Goff. Now, Lawrence has raised the bar.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jaguars handed Lawrence a five-year extension worth $275 million with $200 million guaranteed—his average salary of $55 million ties Joe Burrow for a league-high.
If the Packers had plans to pay Love $50 million annually, they can forget about it now.
Lawrence is coming off a disappointing season, throwing for 4,016 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Jacksonville fell short of expectations. Compare that to Love's first year as a starter, throwing for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Lawrence has never thrown more than 25 touchdown passes.
Lawrence's $55 million salary is the starting price for Love. Two weeks ago, it would've been a different story.
Green Bay's delay in getting a deal done doesn't make any sense. Gutekunst knew they were going to pay Love but had to wait until May 3. They had months to prepare for that date, but we're now in mid-June, and there is still no agreement.
With training camp six weeks away, it's only a matter of time. But the Packers have likely cost themselves by waiting.
