NFL Sack Artists Sit Out As Edge-Rusher Pay Race Heats Up

NFL mandatory minicamps began Tuesday, and a pair of absentees put a spotlight on the battle to become the league’s highest-paid defensive end.

The Steelers’ T.J. Watt and Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson are both missing their teams’ mandatory minicamp as they look to secure long-term extensions. Assuming they miss all three days, each will incur a fine close to $105,000.

Hendrickson, 30, led the league in sacks last season (17.5) and is on a one-year deal worth $21 million. Watt was the sacks leader in 2023 with 19 and has one year remaining on a four-year, $112 million deal. He finished with 11.5 sacks last season. 

It’s unclear whether either is holding out in the hopes of passing Myles Garrett as the NFL’s highest-paid edge rusher. The Browns star signed a four-year, $160 million deal ($40 million average annual value) in March, a month after he had requested a trade out of Cleveland.

Here are the current highest-paid edge-rushers by average annual value (data from Over The Cap):

• Myles Garrett, Browns: $40 million
• Danielle Hunter, Texans: $35.6 million
• Maxx Crosby, Raiders: $35.5 million
• Nick Bosa, 49ers: $34 million
• Josh Hines-Allen: $28.25 million

Hunter and Crosby both signed new deals this offseason, though the former’s was just a one-year extension that will keep him in Houston through 2026. The rest of the players in the top five have deals of at least four years.

Hendrickson has expressed his disappointment in the Bengals’ front office over the negotiations, saying in April that the team has made it “personal.” Cincinnati has notoriously avoided paying big bucks to its players, but handed out two nine-figure deals to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to make them the highest-paid wide receiver duo in the league.

Cowboy Standoff

Hendrickson and Watt aren’t the only edge rushers seeking a new deal. Micah Parsons has yet to agree to an extension with the Cowboys, though he isn’t expected to miss mandatory minicamp. 

On Sunday, Parsons posted a TikTok video following a trend of saying “good night” to his friends. One of the people he called was new Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who encouraged Parsons amid the contract negotiations.

“I know this is weird for everybody, man. But look, you’re handling everything the right way, bro. And this thing’s going to get worked out,” Schottenheimer said as Parsons nodded and smiled toward the camera.

Unlike the other two holdouts, Parsons, 26, is still on his rookie contract, and his fifth-year option would be worth $24 million this year. Since joining the league in 2021, the former first-round pick out of Penn State has tallied 52.5 sacks. Parsons missed four games last season due to injury but totaled 12 sacks.