At this level within the NFL offseason, we all know many of the huge names who’ve missed OTAs, and (for probably the most half) what they’re angling for. Some wish to receives a commission, some desire a commerce, however for some the motives are nonetheless a thriller.
Even amid all of the tumultuous information, there are nonetheless shocking omissions for OTAs that might have a huge impact on groups — and probably result in fines if the gamers miss necessary minicamp beginning Tuesday (save for the Chicago Bears, who held their minicamp final week with no holdouts). In response to the NFL collective bargaining settlement, gamers are topic to a $17,462 high-quality in the event that they miss sooner or later of necessary minicamp, then a $34,925 high-quality in the event that they miss a second day. If a participant misses the third and remaining day, the high-quality is $52,381.
However gamers are circumventing these fines by displaying up for practices and easily not collaborating.
This is the most recent our NFL Nation reporters have been listening to about OTA absences and what to anticipate at minicamp.
Bounce to:
Cousins | Cook dinner | Hendrickson | Stewart | Parsons | Alexander | Jenkins | Ramsey
Smith | Watt | Metcalf | Reddick | Lattimore | McLaurin | Tunsil
Standing: Current at a number of OTAs; did not follow
Cousins desires to be a beginning quarterback this season. That is not going to occur in Atlanta, the place Michael Penix Jr. changed him because the starter final season.
Cousins’ choice is to be launched, however the Falcons will not do this. He is owed $27.5 million in 2025 whether or not he is on the roster or minimize, and the group would relatively him have as a backup than be saddled with lifeless cash. Atlanta would like to discover a commerce, although provided that one other crew picks up a major chunk of that assured cash, which features a $10 million bonus in 2026. Cousins additionally has a no-trade clause. — Marc Raimondi
Standing: Skipped voluntary OTA practices whereas looking for a brand new contract
The Payments rewarded three members of the 2022 draft class — Khalil Shakir, Terrel Bernard and Christian Benford — with new offers this offseason. Cook dinner, nevertheless, was not one among them regardless of discussions between his representatives and the Payments. The 2 sides weren’t shut as he enters the fourth and remaining yr of his contract.
Cook dinner, 25, is coming off one of the best season of his profession — 1,009 speeding yards,16 touchdowns on the bottom (tied for the league excessive) — and the crew has acknowledged his significance. “He was clearly enormous for us final yr,” offensive coordinator Joe Brady mentioned. — Alaina Getzenberg
Standing: Skipped voluntary OTA practices; vowed to not play with out new contract
Hendrickson acquired a textual content from coach Zac Taylor reminding him concerning the high-quality schedule for gamers who skip minicamp, which triggered Hendrickson’s media tour throughout offseason exercises.
He’s looking for a brand new contract and has no intention of enjoying the ultimate yr of his present deal.
Hendrickson had been granted permission to hunt commerce presents.
Standing: Skipped voluntary OTA practices whereas awaiting new language in rookie contract
It is a distinctive state of affairs as a result of Stewart is not technically beneath contract. Nonetheless, it successfully can be a hold-in if he misses necessary camp as a result of the rookie has not signed his participation waiver and isn’t partaking in drills due to a contract dispute, in keeping with a supply acquainted with the negotiations.
If the 2 sides can agree on the contract language, it ought to easy issues over with the crew’s first-round decide. — Ben Child
1:21
Why Graziano suspects huge paydays may come for star edge rushers
Dan Graziano evaluates the contract panorama for the NFL’s high cross rushers, together with Trey Hendrickson, Micah Parsons and T.J. Watt.
Standing: Looking for contract extension
Parsons was out and in of the offseason program, however was not a part of the OTAs. He mentioned he can be on the minicamp, but it surely’s not recognized how a lot on-field work — if any — he’ll do.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer mentioned Parsons has remained related to the crew even when he has not attended the whole lot. Maybe displaying as much as the minicamp can jump-start contract talks. — Todd Archer
Standing: Skipped all the offseason program
At first, the 2 sides appeared headed towards a break up, however the longer Alexander remained on the roster, the higher the possibility they may work one thing out. Either side have been pissed off when final season ended, with Alexander refusing to remark as a result of he wasn’t certain whether or not he’d be again with the crew, and with the Packers disenchanted that he performed in solely seven video games for the second straight season.
Once they did not commerce him earlier than the draft, the Packers then started discussions a few renegotiation to decrease his pay from $17.5 million this season.
Standing: Skipped all the offseason program
In response to sources, Jenkins was OK with the Packers shifting him from guard to middle, however he wished his contract adjusted to guard in opposition to the lack of future earnings (facilities are sometimes paid lower than guards). Although the Packers do not normally renegotiate contracts with two years remaining, as Jenkins has on his deal, maybe they may provide to ensure some or all of his remaining cash contemplating there aren’t any ensures left on his contract. — Rob Demovsky
Standing: The crew is looking for a commerce
Ramsey is on his method out of South Florida after simply two seasons.
Common supervisor Chris Grier mentioned in April that the crew was actively trying to transfer Ramsey, however the monetary ramifications have been too nice to commerce him earlier than June 1. Now that the calendar has turned, a commerce may materialize quickly.
Standing: Looking for new contract
Smith signed a two-year, $8.4 million cope with Miami final offseason and turned in one of the best statistical season by a Dolphins tight finish in historical past (88 receptions, 884 yards, 8 TDs). Now he is in search of a pay improve, and though Miami briefly entertained a commerce, that appears unlikely to occur. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Standing: Skipped voluntary OTA practices whereas negotiating extension
It is too early to say Watt is unquestionably holding out, however one of many league’s premier cross rushers and the Steelers are engaged on an extension as he enters the ultimate yr of his contact.
Although he hasn’t talked publicly for the reason that finish of the season, Watt appeared to telegraph that negotiations aren’t going to his liking when he posted an image to his Instagram story holding up a peace check in a Steelers jersey. With Cleveland’s Myles Garrett signing a file $40 million-a-year extension earlier this offseason, Watt’s worth seemingly retains going up.
Standing: Skipped voluntary OTA practices
Regardless of attending greater than half of the primary two offseason exercise phases, new Steelers receiver Metcalf wasn’t noticed at any of the crew’s OTA practices. That seemingly will not be the case at minicamp with Aaron Rodgers now within the fold.. — Brooke Pryor
Standing: Opted to not take part in OTAs
Given his prolonged holdout with the New York Jets final yr, Reddick’s lack of participation in Buccaneers OTAs raised some eyebrows. The crew did not categorical concern, as head coach Todd Bowles mentioned he is holding tabs on Reddick by way of place coach Larry Foote. — Jenna Laine
Standing: Skipped voluntary OTA practices
Washington acquired Lattimore in a midseason commerce with New Orleans, however a hamstring damage restricted him to 2 regular-season video games (and all three playoff video games) with the Commanders.
Lattimore has solely $2 million in assured cash left in every of the ultimate two years of his contract, however this seems extra about what he is all the time carried out relatively than angling for an extension. He skipped the voluntary OTA periods whereas enjoying for the Saints as effectively, together with every of the prior two years.
Standing: Skipped voluntary OTA practices
McLaurin, coming off his best season — with 82 receptions, 1,096 yards and a career-best 13 touchdowns (one fewer than he had the earlier three years mixed) — is getting into the ultimate yr of his contract. The 2 sides have been discussing an extension however haven’t struck a deal.
McLaurin skipped voluntary periods in addition to the necessary minicamp in 2022 earlier than signing a three-year extension.
He had been attending all offseason exercises till the week of Could 20.
Coach Dan Quinn is just not involved. “Terry’s had an important offseason,” he mentioned.
Receiver Deebo Samuel, who held out for a number of days early within the 2022 coaching camp with San Francisco, mentioned, “I perceive the enterprise facet of the issues, and when he stopped coming, I perceive his facet of the story.”
Standing: Skipped voluntary OTA practices
Washington acquired Tunsil in a March commerce, and he has confirmed as much as a number of the voluntary offseason work. However he typically missed voluntary work whereas enjoying in Houston, so it wasn’t an enormous shock that he didn’t attend Washington’s first OTA practices.
His presence would assist, contemplating he is with a brand new group and there is a good likelihood he’ll be enjoying subsequent to Brandon Coleman, who is just not solely a brand new teammate but in addition new to left guard within the NFL.
However Tunsil’s monitor file of in-season success will alleviate issues. — John Keim
