6 reasons for and against the Panthers trading for Jordan Love
By Jason Huber
Carolina Panthers would get a cheap QB with a potentially high reward
Since he’s only entering his third year in the NFL, Jordan Love is due to count just $3.37 million against the salary cap next season and $3.94 million in 2023 if his fifth-year option is picked up.
That is practically nothing for a quarterback. Especially if Love ends up having a really good season in 2022 if a trade can be agreed with the Green Bay Packers at some stage during the offseason.
If he does play well, Love will obviously need a large contract extension in the coming years. But the benefit of having a quarterback start at just $1.7 million in base salary would save a lot of money for the Carolina Panthers if they opted to go in this particular direction.
Love could also be brought in to compete with another quarterback depending on how things turn out. This might have to be Sam Darnold despite the USC product failing to rid some critical flaws from his game after his high-profile trade from the New York Jets.
No matter who Carolina brings in at the most important position on the field, Love will undoubtedly be the cheapest option of all the names they’ll consider. A first-round pick would be more expensive and any free agent starting quarterback would ask for more.
It’s a low-risk, high-reward option. One that the Panthers might consider is worth the risk despite the ever-increasing sense of urgency to find the right solution under center.