Delivering an earlier-than-usual autopsy of the Packers’ season, Brian Gutekunst addressed what has already become a third straight offseason of Aaron Rodgers-driven uncertainty.
The sixth-year Packers GM said Jordan Love is “definitely” ready to play, indicating (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, on Twitter) the three-year backup is “chomping at the bit” to become the team’s starter. When asked which quarterback would give the Packers the best chance to win next season, Gutekunst deferred to Rodgers’ four MVP honors.
[RELATED: Matt LaFleur Wants Rodgers Back In 2023]
Once the object of Rodgers ire, Gutekunst earned his way back into the future Hall of Famer’s good graces to close out a turbulent 2021. Rodgers ended up signing a three-year, $150.8MM extension in March 2022. That record-setting contract does give the Packers some flexibility, allowing a $58MM bonus to be paid at any point in 2023. That opens the door for a trade, and Rodgers said last week his Green Bay future may not be entirely up to him. Rodgers, 39, looks to also be considering retirement.
Gutekunst did not entertain the prospect of a Rodgers trade when asked about it Friday and said he can see a scenario in which Rodgers and Love are on the roster together for a fourth season, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein tweets. The Packers have received criticism for using a first-round pick on Love and sitting him for three seasons, effectively squandering the rookie-contract resource that has been so valuable to teams who have taken first-round QBs since the 2011 CBA reshaped rookie deals. The Packers must decide on Love’s fully guaranteed fifth-year option in May.
Love is on Green Bay’s payroll at $3.94MM for 2023; Rodgers would check in with a $31.62MM cap number. Unless the Packers trade Rodgers or he retires, the team could conceivably run back a Rodgers-Love depth chart for a fourth straight year. Given how far the team has pushed the Love apprenticeship, it would make sense to — NFL norms be damned — extend that into 2023. But the Packers’ QB depth chart is not yet certain. Gutekunst said (via Silverstein, on Twitter) he wants both players back and that Rodgers will take his time and regularly communicate with the team.
Rodgers fell off the MVP perch this season, with the Packers’ controversial strategy at wide receiver impacting the superstar QB’s performance. Gutekunst said as much Friday, indicating (via Silverstein) the Davante Adams trade played a role in Rodgers’ numbers dipping in 2022. Thumb and rib injuries plagued Rodgers this season as well, leading to Love making an intriguing cameo in Philadelphia. The Packers staying in the NFC wild-card race kept Love on the bench. QBR was particularly harsh on Rodgers, dropping him from first (in 2021) to 26th. Trade interest would undoubtedly come, were the Packers to consider it this time around. They resisted Broncos interest in 2021, and Rodgers decided to stay in Green Bay via the extension last year.
Regardless of Rodgers’ status, Gutekunst said restructures are a near-certainty. Early projections have the Packers at $13MM over the 2023 cap, though the 2023 salary ceiling has not yet been finalized. Gutekunst expects both Aaron Jones and David Bakhtiari to return next season as well (Twitter links via Schenidman and ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky).
Jones’ cap number balloons to $5.9MM to $20MM next season; a restructure would knock that down while adding to future cap figures. Bakhtiari’s cap figure will spike from $13.4MM to $29.1MM. While the All-Pro left tackle returned to action this season, the knee trouble that shelved him in 2021 limited him to 11 games this season. Bakhtiari, who has missed 30 games since the 2020 season (counting playoff tilts), said recently he does not intend to retire.
a look back at my preseason predictions
AFC
1. Bills 16-1
2. Broncos 15-2
3. Bengals 13-4
4. Raiders 12-5
5. Jags 10-7
6. Ravens 12-5
7. Chiefs 11-6
–
8. Colts 10-7
9. Dolphins 9-8
10. Chargers 9-8
11. Steelers 8-9
12. Patriots 8-9
13. Jets 7-10
14. Texans 6-11
15. Titans 5-12
16. Browns 2-15
NFC:
1. Bucs
2. Rams
3. Packers
4. 49ers
5. Cowboys
6. Eagles
7. Lions
–
8. Vikings
9. Panthers
10. Cards
11. Saints
12. Giants
13. Falcons
14. Bears
15. Seahawks
16. Red Skins
You really thought Cleveland would go 2-15 though? All in all pretty close however.
Yet Brownsbacker said they’d make the playoffs…
They had no chance at making the playoffs this year with all that drama, I can see them doing so next year.
I can just as easily see them at the bottom of the division again, to be honest.
This is a good reminder of just how badly DEN, LAR, LV, and TB did vs general expectations…
You more or less nailed the glut of “meh” teams though, eh?
I found it pretty interesting how we all went into the season thinking the AFC West was going to be a dog fight.
How foolish Denver at 2 looks now compared to when they looked like the hot new ticket
Rams had a superbowl hangover.. Brady went through a divorce.. and Derek Carr laid an egg
Based Red Skins caller
You did horrible
thanks
I hear Arson Rodgers is interested in joining the Giants!
As a Giants fan, no thank you.
The Love situation has reached an interesting point. He’s almost completed his rookie contract. To this point he has shown little to nothing as far as what level of QB play he may offer on the field. No reason to pick up his 5th year option as I can’t imagine he’d command a very large contract on the open market. So, 4 years of development (which he certainly needed every moment of) then a reasonably low 2nd contract. Maybe the Packers are trailblazers showing the 49ers exactly how to handle such developmental guys.
Just when we thought we would get a few months off from discussing a Packers QB controversy, Gutekunst comes out and fires it up.
The Rodgers decision won’t be known for another 6 months. There will be a lot rumors between now and then. Wouldn’t surprise me if they rework his contract and he is moved after June.
Rodgers should have been in camp last summer working with his new receivers like Pat Mahomes did with his new receiving crew. KC wins another division title and high playoff seed, Rodgers stunk up the field. But no, selfish Rodgers had to go drug it up in South America. He’s all about himself and now that I know he’s an antiscience nut, the faster he’s gone the better.
you don’t think he had chemistry with Wastson?
also much like vegans making meat cheaper for me, I’ll never hate on someone for trying the jab first…..
absolutely doesn’t mean he’s anti science. science means constant testing and hypothesis.
Jordan Love will be a FA after 2023.
He simply won’t but alright.
I know a lot of people like to pile on Bahktiari for the length of time it took to come back from the ACL..but are we also lumping the time he missed after the appendectomy onto that now?
And we really need to stop putting all blame on the player (and their agent) when they get a mega contract. Whether it’s the GM, team “capologist” or whatever, someone from the organization agreed to offer it in the first place.
Love is not good otherwise they wouldn’t have extended Rodgers to such a big contract. Notice they said Love was “ready” to be the starter but they didn’t say anything about how good he is.
They also said Love was “chomping at the bit” to takeover the starting job. Makes me think he is frustrated and will want to leave.
My opinion is Rodgers is holding Love back because Favre did that to him doing the same retirement talk.
You’re reading too much into things
Even though Jimmy G was not a 1st round pick, this is the same scenario. Garapollo had more success and played a few more games than Love but NE was forced to decide between a year or two more with Brady or a career with Garapollo. GB has a tough decision if Rodgers comes back. Do you extend an unproven Love decent money or do you get rid of one this off-season
The toughest part about it all is Love hasn’t played any games outside of the short notice Chiefs game last year. Jimmy G showed talent when he started during Brady’s suspension.
But Jimmy G got hurt and Brissett had to play. I think they are similar in experience during their time
If you move on from Rodgers you’ve got to load Love up with some more weapons. But I don’t think it will be doom and gloom with Love at the reins.
Watson seems like a gem . and Doubs should improve in year 2
wouldn’t mind seeing them add a TE in the draft
While I didn’t agree with the drafting of Love. I hope the Packers do keep Love and he’s given a real opportunity to succeed AR12 if he retires as a Packer this off season or next year. However, knowing the GB front office and the state of WI like I do. I don’t see that happening.
Either way, they need to sign a quality veteran WR.