Packers sign core player to big money deal, but it's not Love

Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Packers sign core player to big money deal, but it's not Jordan Love

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jul 22, 2024 8:35 AM ET

With the start of the 2024 NFL season looming, the Green Bay Packers had two big contract extensions to work on before then, including a new deal for starting quarterback Jordan Love.

They ended up getting one of those contracts taken care of Sunday.

It just was not the Love contract that everybody is anticipating.

Instead, the Packers signed nose tackle Kenny Clark to a new three-year, $64M contract extension to keep him in the center of the team's defense for the foreseeable future.

Packers Pro-Bowl nose tackle Kenny Clark signed a three-year, $64 million extension today with Green Bay, per sources. The deal was negotiated by @Wasserman agents @DHendrickson41 and @CJLaBoy and pays Clark $29 million in 2024 and could bring his career earnings to over $150… pic.twitter.com/VRaD04VxYm
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 21, 2024

Clark, 28, has appeared in three Pro Bowls with the Packers and is coming off of a career year in 2023 that saw him record 7.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits.

All of those numbers were career highs for him. He is one of the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL and has been a core part of the Packers defense since arriving in Green Bay at the start of the 2016 season.

The Packers defense struggled to limit the number of yards they allowed during the 2023 season, finishing 17th in total yards against, but they did a good job keeping teams off the scoreboard. Their 20.6 points against were 10th best in the NFL.

With Clark's deal complete, all eyes in Green Bay — and the NFL — turn to Love. The 2023 season was his first as a starter in the NFL and he immediately looked the part as a franchise quarterback.

While there is interest in getting a deal done, they do not seem to be close as training camp opens.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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