Players are still angling for new contracts
This NFL offseason has seen some eye-popping contracts get awarded to the league’s top players. Aaron Rodgers got $50 million per year. Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill reset the receiver market at more than $25 million per year. Aaron Donald became the first non-quarterback to get $30 million per year.
The free agency splurging continued this past week when the Steelers gave safety Minkah Fitzpatrick a new deal worth a reported $36 million in guarantees.
But there are still several players around the league waiting — hoping — to get paid this offseason. Some of them skipped mandatory minicamp, subjecting themselves to about $90,000 in fines.
Let’s take a look at the top contract situations still to be resolved:
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson: Entering the final year of his rookie contract, for a guaranteed $23 million, Jackson reported to minicamp after skipping voluntary workouts this spring. A chasm has existed between the Ravens and Jackson for nearly two years on a new contract, and the sides hadn’t engaged in discussions for at least several months until recently, Jackson acknowledged.
It’s one of the more complicated negotiations in recent NFL memory. Jackson is a young, dynamic former MVP, yet there are legitimate questions about his pocket passing and whether his style hampers the Ravens when they have to play from behind. Also complicating negotiations is that Jackson doesn’t have an official agent.
Momentum does seem to be building for a deal to get done before the regular season, but Jackson didn’t commit to reporting to training camp on time in late July, which could subject him to fines of $50,000 per day. “We’re having a conversation about it,” he told Baltimore reporters.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, wide receiver Marquise Brown and center Rodney Hudson: The Cardinals have had a little contract-related turmoil this offseason, particularly with their franchise quarterback. Murray did report for minicamp, but he also skipped voluntary workouts and had his agent threaten a holdout. Murray is under contract for about $5 million this year and $29 million next year, but the Cardinals keep saying they are going to redo his deal. “It’ll be great for this organization when this is wrapped up,” coach Kliff Kingsbury said.
But the Cardinals also have contract issues with two other starters. Brown, acquired from the Ravens for a first-round pick before the draft, is under contract for $2.1 million this year and $13.4 million next year. But Kingsbury said “we’d love to get [a contract] done” and “Hollywood is a guy that we see as a long-term answer.” Hudson, their 12th-year center, was an unexcused absence from minicamp, ostensibly to renegotiate the two years and $20 million left on his deal.
Raiders tight end Darren Waller:
New general manager Dave Ziegler and coach Josh McDaniels have taken care of a lot of players this
offseason. Quarterback Derek Carr got a new deal. They traded for Adams and gave him a massive contract. They paid pass rusher Maxx Crosby and paid another one in Chandler Jones. They just got a new contract done for Hunter Renfrow.
Now it’s Waller’s turn after he has emerged as one of the most dangerous receiving tight ends in the league. He has two years and $14 million left on his deal but didn’t skip minicamp and isn’t worrying too much, at least publicly. “You’ve got to be locked in as a professional. So I try to be a professional every day,” he said.
Receivers getting in line: Top receivers are getting crazy money. Adams got $28 million per year, Hill got $30 million (though some of it is funny money), Cooper Kupp got nearly $27 million per year, and A.J. Brown got $25 million per year from the Eagles. And the receivers from the 2019 draft class are eligible for new contracts. Brown already got his fat deal, though he didn’t get it from the Titans. Now the other star receivers from the 2019 class — the Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf, 49ers’ Deebo Samuel and
Commanders’ Terry McLaurin — are wondering when it’s their turn. All three players are in the final year of their contracts, with Metcalf and Samuel set to make $3.986 million, and McLaurin $2.79 million.
Metcalf and the Seahawks have expressed optimism over a new deal, but Metcalf skipped minicamp. “We’ll see what happens and hopefully we can work something out,” coach Pete Carroll said.
Samuel requested a trade this offseason, but the 49ers have held firm, and Samuel showed up to minicamp. McLaurin skipped minicamp, but Commanders coach Ron Rivera said the team isn’t trading him and that “I believe we’re headed in the right direction.”
Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown:
The Chiefs gave Brown the franchise tag, guaranteeing him about $16.66 million this season. But Brown hasn’t signed his tag, meaning his absence from minicamp was unpunishable. The sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal, at which point Brown can only play under the franchise tag (unless the team rescinds it). Coach Andy Reid said, “I know both sides will handle it the right way and come to a spot that’s good for both Orlando and the team.”
Also waiting: Titans RB Derrick Henry, Titans defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons, Bills safety Jordan Poyer, Bears defensive end Robert Quinn. The Titans don’t have any holdouts to worry about. Henry, with two years and $25 million left on his deal, said he’s angling for a “promotion” but didn’t indicate any issues with the team. Same with Simmons, playing on his fifth-year option and reporting to minicamp. Poyer, a 2021 All-Pro, attended Bills minicamp but wants a new deal with one year and $5.6 million left on his contract. But the Bears have an issue with Quinn, under contract for about $13 million this season. Quinn, entering his 12th season, skipped minicamp and wants a new contract after setting the franchise record for sacks last year (18.5).