Panic Meter for Potential 2024 NFL Training Camp Holdouts
Maurice Moton@@MoeMotonContributor IJune 10, 2024Panic Meter for Potential 2024 NFL Training Camp Holdouts0 of 10
Bengals WR Tee HigginsIan Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Between May and early September, NFL front offices sort out contractual matters with rookies and veterans. General managers usually have few issues with rookie deals, though negotiations with established players can linger through the summer.
Ascending players, Pro Bowlers and All-Pros want to be paid appropriately. Some of them have outplayed their contracts and want more financial security in terms of longer deals and guaranteed money.
While quarterback Dak Prescott is willing to bet on himself if the Dallas Cowboys don’t sign him to an extension, other players feel they’re due for an immediate pay raise and have skipped voluntary organized team activities in protest of their current salaries.
Below, we provided an update on contract disputes with a panic meter (on a scale of one to 10). Lower numbers indicate the strong likelihood of a team striking a deal with a player while higher numbers forecast an extended holdout, which may lead to an eventual trade.
Like Prescott, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill haven’t skipped practices and aren’t pressing the issue about their contracts. So, none of them are listed as potential training camp holdouts.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers1 of 10
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In April, the San Francisco 49ers selected Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 draft, which gives them quality depth at wide receiver in case they trade Brandon Aiyuk.
Yet general manager John Lynch says he wants Aiyuk to be a 49er for the “rest of his career.”
The 26-year-old has been a rising star, and he’s coming off his most productive year with 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes Aiyuk sees Amon-Ra St. Brown’s four-year, $120 million extension as the “benchmark” for his new contract.
The 49ers reworked Christian McCaffrey’s deal, which reset the running back market, and they still have $32.7 million in cap space.
With quarterback Brock Purdy on his rookie deal, San Francisco can afford to give Aiyuk a massive pay raise with the new money set to kick in after his first five-year deal.
However, the question is: Does head coach Kyle Shanahan believe the Arizona State product is worth that money or that his offensive system elevates the player?
With Pearsall on the roster, one has to wonder if Shanahan believes his system can run efficiently without an established No. 1 wideout.
According to Fowler, the 49ers’ negotiations with Aiyuk haven’t “intensified.” The two sides may be headed toward a long standoff.
Panic Meter: 8
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals2 of 10
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Ja’Marr Chase has talked about his contract situation for months. So, it didn’t surprise anyone when he skipped OTAs.
Head coach Zac Taylor didn’t get into specifics but told reporters that he’s had “great dialogue” with the wide receiver when asked if he will rejoin the team for mandatory minicamp.
Chase has earned Pro Bowl honors in all three of his seasons, racking up 268 receptions for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns in 45 games.
As the Cincinnati Bengals’ lead WR, the 24-year-old will soon become one of the highest-paid players at his position.
The Bengals aren’t going to part ways with quarterback Joe Burrow’s fellow LSU alum and top playmaker. They’re going to keep that pair happy for the foreseeable future.
Panic Meter: 1
Cameron Heyward, DL, Pittsburgh Steelers3 of 10
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Cameron Heyward is entering his age-35 season. He sat out six games last year because of injury, the first time he has missed multiple outings in a season since 2016.
The defensive lineman finished the 2023 campaign with 33 tackles, six for loss, two sacks and just five pressures.
Based on age and production, Heyward doesn’t have much leverage at the negotiating table other than what he’s done throughout his 13-year career.
Yet the three-time first-team All-Pro skipped the first two weeks of OTAs to push for a new contract before rejoining the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.
According to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Heyward wants to play for three more seasons.
Heyward told reporters that the team has opened communications with him, but he said there’s “nothing to really report on now.”
His contract has one non-guaranteed term left, which means the Steelers would have to add two more years to it to satisfy his career plan.
While the Steelers have opened up the line of communication with Heyward, don’t be surprised if talks stall because of questions about his durability and the potential for further decline in production.
Pittsburgh could adjust Heyward’s contract, but the team may not give him exactly what he wants on a new deal.
Panic Meter: 7
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals 4 of 10
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While we can expect the Cincinnati Bengals to sign Ja’Marr Chase to an extension that tops Justin Jefferson’s new four-year, $140 million contract, Tee Higgins is in a different boat.
The Bengals franchise-tagged Higgins, but according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he hasn’t signed the tender.
In an appearance on the I Am Athlete podcast (h/t James Rapien of Sports Illustrated), the 25-year-old said he would “love” to stay in Cincinnati but also acknowledged the possibility of a move elsewhere.
“It would be bittersweet,” Higgins said. “I would definitely love to be here [in Cincinnati], but if that’s not the situation, then that’s not the situation.”
Though Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters that he expects to work with Higgins this year, the team drafted a potential replacement in rookie third-rounder Jermaine Burton.
Furthermore, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby, Cincinnati hasn’t engaged in contract talks with the Clemson product in over a year.
Without active negotiations and the team likely to pay Chase in the coming weeks, Higgins probably isn’t going to get a new deal from the Bengals. He’ll play out the final term of his contract on the franchise tag or land elsewhere via trade at some point this year.
Panic Meter: 9
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys 5 of 10
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Like Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb’s eyes probably lit up when he saw reports about wideout Justin Jefferson’s market-setting extension.
According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, Jefferson’s contract will speed up negotiations between the Dallas Cowboys and Lamb’s camp.
The 25-year-old has the production and accolades to command a lucrative pay raise. He’s hauled in 395 passes for 5,145 yards and 32 touchdowns in 66 games. The fifth-year pro has earned three Pro Bowl nods and is coming off an All-Pro season in which he led the league in catches (135).
With Micah Parsons willing to wait on his extension and Dak Prescott stating that he’s comfortable betting on himself in a contract year, the Cowboys can focus on Lamb’s new deal.
Lamb skipped mandatory minicamp, which makes him subject to fines, but Dallas can waive those financial penalties because he’s still on a rookie contract.
Soon, Lamb will be one of the league’s highest-paid receivers.
Panic Meter: 1
Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers 6 of 10
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Some players need multiple productive years to get a massive salary raise. Jordan Love’s agent can strike a big deal with the Green Bay Packers after his client put together one promising season.
In his first year as a full-time starter, he threw for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a 64.2 percent completion rate. He helped lead the Packers to the playoffs and a win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Round.
Despite Love’s small sample size of playing time, the Packers believe he’s their franchise quarterback.
In an appearance on 97.3 The Game, general manager Brian Gutekunst said he wants to get a deal done with the 25-year-old before training camp.
Last offseason, the Packers reworked Love’s rookie contract with the confidence that he can take the baton from Aaron Rodgers, who was traded to the New York Jets.
Thus far, it seems like Green Bay made the right call.
When reporters asked the Utah State product if he would play out the final year of his contract, he said, “We’ll see,” which created some speculation about a potential holdout.
Love may not have to ponder that situation much longer because Gutekunst sounds motivated to sign him to an extension before the team returns to the practice field in the summer.
Panic Meter: 1
Haason Reddick, Edge, New York Jets 7 of 10
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The New York Jets’ contract standoff with Haason Reddick seems awkward because they traded a conditional 2026 third-round pick—which becomes a second-rounder if he plays 67.5 percent of the defensive snaps and logs 10 sacks in 2024—to the Philadelphia Eagles for him, and he’s yet to join the team.
One would think that the Jets reached an agreement on contractual issues as part of the trade deal. Typically, clubs acquire players and almost immediately sign them to extensions if the player wants a new deal.
Before the Jets acquired Reddick, Eagles’ best reporters expected him to want a new contract.
According to The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt, the 29-year-old wants about $25 million annually, and that should make the Jets clench their teeth a bit.
Gang Green allowed edge-rusher Bryce Huff to walk in free agency, and he signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Eagles.
Though Reddick is a more established edge-rusher than Huff, with four consecutive 11-plus-sack seasons, he would sign a bigger contract in total value if Rosenblatt’s estimation is correct.
With one non-guaranteed year left on his contract, the Temple product isn’t likely to step on the field without an extension. The Jets are probably on the hook for whatever he wants after letting Huff walk and giving up draft capital for him.
Our panic meter rises to a six because New York could have handled this transition from Huff to Reddick more seamlessly.
Panic Meter: 6
Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos 8 of 10
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This offseason, the Denver Broncos haven’t hesitated to move on from starters, and Courtland Sutton could be next in a roster rebuild.
The Broncos have released quarterback Russell Wilson and safety Justin Simmons and traded wideout Jerry Jeudy.
Because of Jeudy’s departure, one would think that they would do their best to retain Sutton, who led the team in catches (59), receiving yards (772) and touchdowns (10) last year.
However, the 2019 Pro Bowler could price himself out of Denver as head coach Sean Payton revamps his offense.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (h/t Zack Kelberman of Sports Illustrated), the Broncos haven’t made “real progress” on extension talks with Sutton.
However, Payton said he expects the SMU product to rejoin the team for mandatory minicamp, and the wideout confirmed that notion during an appearance on DNVR Broncos Podcast (h/t Broncos Wire’s Jon Heath).
While Payton and Sutton are on the same page to finish spring practices, Denver still needs to meet him on a middle ground in contract negotiations.
If the Broncos want to help rookie first-rounder Bo Nix, journeyman Jarrett Stidham or Zach Wilson in the passing game, they need to keep Sutton in their plans.
Panic Meter: 3
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins9 of 10
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Though you can argue Miami Dolphins’ offensive playmakers, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and a stable of running backs that led the league in rushing touchdowns last year have elevated Tua Tagovailoa, he’s the point guard of a top-two offense in scoring and total yards.
Coming off his first Pro Bowl campaign, the 26-year-old showed up to Dolphins’ OTAs, but he clearly wants something done about his contract soon.
“Not frustrated, but I’m another word,” Tagovailoa told reporters. “Just wanting to get something done. That’s it…Antsy might be a good word.”
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini believes the Dolphins will sign the Alabama product to an extension at some point in the summer.
Right now, Tagovailoa hasn’t caused much of a stir about his contract, but that could change if nothing happens before training camp.
Panic Meter: 2
Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 of 10
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In April, the Detroit Lions signed Penei Sewell to a four-year, $112 million extension, which made him the league’s highest-paid right tackle.
So, of course, Tristan Wirfs has to believe he’s due for a big raise, too.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the 25-year-old doesn’t plan to report to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he seeks a new contract.
Like Sewell, Wirfs has an All-Pro season on his resume, but the latter has played at a Pro Bowl level at right and left tackle.
Last year, he transitioned from the right to the left side and still played at a high level, protecting quarterback Baker Mayfield, who posted career-high passing numbers.
This offseason, the Buccaneers have signed Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans to new deals to keep their offensive core intact. Wirfs, who plays arguably the most important non-quarterback position, should be next up for an extension.
Panic Meter: 1
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Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
