Packers sign Jordan Love and AJ Dillon to rookie deals

With training camp (probably?) looming in the next few weeks, the Green Bay Packers have taken an important step by signing first-round pick QB Jordan Love and second-round pick RB AJ Dillon to rookie deals.

Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Packers showed great faith in Jordan Love with a fully guaranteed contract of $12,383,470 over four years, as well as a signing bonus of $6,566,160. Garafolo notes this is the first time in NFL history the number 26 pick a fully guaranteed deal.

By not only drafting a quarterback in the first round but by trading up for Love, the Packers clearly believe in Love as the heir to Aaron Rodgers. This guaranteed money only solidifies that faith. Green Bay also has the fifth-year option available.

Love likely doesn’t see much playing time in 2020 barring an injury to Rodgers, but getting him signed and beginning his development is crucial to his future. His 2019 season was riddled with turnovers, but his 2018 season was much more adroit. LaFleur and Co will want to channel the skills shown in 2018 and turn him into a pro.

Dillon was drafted at pick 62, a nice inverse to Love. OverTheCap estimates his deal around $610k a year based on his draft position.

Dillon is a massive battering ram-type runner. His draft was somewhat surprising as the Packers possess two adept running backs, but both are on a contract year. While the team has downplayed how often they intend to run the ball going forward, comments from the team and Dillon himself adamantly believe Dillon will be a force in the passing game, something he simply wasn’t asked to do much of at Boston College.

Out of his draft class, Dillon likely sees the most action in 2020. Running backs are one of the easier positions to transfer into the NFL, and Dillon was an early-round skill position player. Even with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams in the backfield, Dillon provides another option with a different skillset. The Packers won’t want to sit their new weapon.

Both moves were announced by the team on Wednesday.

With these signings, the Packers have signed six of their nine draft picks. Only TE Josiah Deguara, linebacker Kamal Martin, and offensive lineman Jake Hanson remain unsigned.