The start of NFL training camps this week also marks the opening of holdout season, and its close relative, hold-in season.
Several big names are holding out entirely, willing to eat tens of thousands of dollars in daily fines rather than risk injury or losing leverage. A handful of others are present at training camp, but not practicing as their contract negotiations come down to the wire.
Players currently on rookie contracts like holdout Dallas wide receiver CeeDee Lamb face fines of $40,000 per day, according to the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Lamb already forfeited $101,716 for missing mandatory minicamp, as did 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Non-rookie players like the Jets’ Haason Reddick are losing $50,000 a day by holding out from training camp, although there are some exceptions. Last season, for example, the 49ers could forgive Nick Bosa’s fines because he was on a rookie deal, but teams are required to fine veteran players missing camp. (Reddick is an interesting case because he requested a trade out of Philadelphia due to his contract in the first place, meaning the Jets knew he wanted a new deal. He has one year and $14 million remaining on his current one.)
49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams is still holding out, while Aiyuk and Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love are holding in. The Saints’ running back Alvin Kamara is fully practicing but is still trying to get a new deal, and Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was limited at practice. (Tagovailoa agreed to a four-year, $212 million deal on Friday, with $167 million guaranteed.) Aiyuk had requested a trade, but so did his San Francisco teammate Deebo Samuel, who never left the Bay and eventually agreed to a new contract.
Williams—who is 36 and contemplated retiring after last season—has three years remaining on his six-year, $138.06 million deal. When he signed his contract, he was the highest-paid player in his position, but now he makes more than $5 million less per year than the current highest-paid offensive tackle.
The Packers could make Love “one of, if not the highest-paid QB in NFL history,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said earlier this week. Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence currently hold the top spot, making $55 million annually.
NFL training camps last about two weeks, meaning players would lose $560,000 (rookie deals) or $700,000 (vets) if they hold out the entire time.
