NFL’s summer business crunch hits full speed as top names linger without deals and teams run out of time
There's no shortage of talent across the NFL hoping to secure a new contract before the start of the 2025 season. For some players, like Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt, a finalized deal was able to come together before the start of training camp. Distraction: officially avoided. For others? Not so much. Dallas Cowboys […]
There's no shortage of talent across the NFL hoping to secure a new contract before the start of the 2025 season. For some players, like Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt, a finalized deal was able to come together before the start of training camp. Distraction: officially avoided. For others? Not so much. Dallas Cowboys star defender Micah Parsons, Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, and Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson have all found a mutual agreement is harder to come by.
Who else is seeking business? Here are the major names to watch across the NFL who may have a new contract in their hand come the start of the regular season.
Big Names Seeking New Deals All Over
There's no shortage of options for standout players seeking new business. The quarterback market has cooled off this offseason after a crazy stretch of extensions just one year ago. The 2024 offseason saw Jared Goff, Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love, and Dak Prescott all secure new contracts — with Brock Purdy getting his deal done early this year.
The running back position does have a few key names eligible, including the Rams' Kyren Williams and Buffalo's James Cook. Cook has been vocal amid his bid to secure a top of market contract from Buffalo and the latest reports leave the door open for a "hold-in".
Former Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith was among the names seeking a new deal earlier this spring and he ultimately did get one — after being traded to Pittsburgh along with cornerback Jalen Ramsey. San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings has asked for either a new contract or a trade ahead of training camp, it will be fascinating to see if either party caves there. It should be noted and of interest that newly acquired Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens did not get a new contract despite being traded for significant assets in a contract year. Then again, Jerry Jones appears to be perfectly content to react to the market as compared to acting proactively. Pickens reportedly does not feel urgency to sign a new deal, either.
Offensive tackle Rashawn Slater headlines the offensive linemen who are entering into a contract year but extension talks there have been described as "ongoing".
“I talked with Pat (Collins) yesterday, (Slater’s agent), talked with him today. We’re working through it,” said Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz last week.”Like any high-level negotiation contract, I’ve seen plenty of them done in Baltimore and been involved in discussions internally, they just take time…every conversation has been great, both sides we’re making progress and feel good about it. Feel good about the progress we’re making.”
Author Name
Title
Another talented offensive lineman, Baltimore center Tyler Linderbaum, is due for a contract and the team actually chose to decline his fifth-year option despite his strong play. This is due to a wrinkle in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that loops all offensive line salaries into the same category, meaning Linderbaum's fifth-year option price would effectively be that of an offensive tackle. As such, Baltimore is betting on their ability to secure a new deal before his contract expires next March.
There's plenty of names on defense, headlined by some underpaid pass rushers in Parsons and Hendrickson. Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler has, politely, indicated he would like a new contract this offseason after two consecutive double-digit sack seasons and a scheduled salary of approximately $16 million over the next two seasons combined. Denver defensive lineman Zach Allen is another interior player who could see a new contract after a tremendous and underrated 2024 season.
Denver has another impact player in the front seven who will need attention, too. Nik Bonitto is a disruptive, twitchy force who can slash through a protection scheme and create all kinds of havoc. The Ravens share a similar headache to the Broncos, with defensive linemen Travis Jones and Odafe Oweh both marked as expiring contracts up front.
If all these parties play well, the cost is likely going to be prohibitive for both teams to find room for two market extensions next spring.
Will Trey Hendrickson actually get a deal? He's perhaps the most urgent name out of any player seeking a new contract, given that he's been fighting the Bengals tooth and nail for an extension and pay raise for over a year now. Things have gotten so bad that Hendrickson left Ohio amid the Bengals' report date.
Based off of positional value, off-ball linebacker is probably going to be stagnant for a while. Names like Alex Anzalone, Leo Chenal, and Quay Walker are set to have their contracts expire after this season — with really only Anzalone making any noise about a new contract this summer. He may get a deal but Detroit must be stingy after their extensive list of new contracts in the past year.
In the secondary, the damage is already done. Last year's quarterback market is this year's cornerback market. Sauce Gardner landed the final big deal, resetting the cornerback market and topping Derek Stingley Jr. in the process. The foreseeable future at the position appears to be docile compared to what the past 12 months have provided the position — tracing all the way back to Patrick Surtain II and Jalen Ramsey last August.
Safety will be interesting. Kyle Hamilton is eligible and is the name of significance. But the Ravens did take his fifth-year option, unlike how they chose to handle Linderbaum. It could be foreshadowing that they intend to stretch him for an extra year, or that they're seeking to be more stingy with those negotiations on account of position value.
Yes, I know Hamilton is the ultimate exception. Lions safety Kerby Joseph already reset the safety market this offseason — could Hamilton, amid all of Baltimore's other needs, somehow lock in his future and do the same before the season? It will be one to watch.
