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NFL Nation
At this level within the NFL offseason, we all know many of the massive names who’ve missed OTAs, and (for essentially the most half) what they’re angling for. Some need to receives a commission, some need a commerce, however for some the motives are nonetheless a thriller.
Even amid all of the tumultuous information, there are nonetheless stunning omissions for OTAs that would 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 line with the NFL collective bargaining settlement, gamers are topic to a $17,462 effective in the event that they miss sooner or later of necessary minicamp, then a $34,925 effective in the event that they miss a second day. If a participant misses the third and last day, the effective is $52,381.
However gamers are circumventing these fines by exhibiting up for practices and easily not taking part.
Here is the most recent our NFL Nation reporters have been listening to about OTA absences and what to anticipate at minicamp.
Leap to a participant:
Cousins | Prepare dinner | Hendrickson
Stewart | Parsons | Alexander
Jenkins | Ramsey | Smith | Watt | Metcalf
Reddick | Lattimore | McLaurin | Tunsil
Standing: Current at a number of OTAs; did not apply
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 try this. He is owed $27.5 million in 2025 whether or not he is on the roster or reduce, and the group would fairly have him as a backup than be saddled with useless cash. Atlanta would like to discover a commerce, however provided that one other workforce 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 — WR Khalil Shakir, LB Terrel Bernard and CB Christian Benford — with new offers this offseason. Prepare dinner, nevertheless, was not one among them despite the fact that his representatives had discussions with the Payments. The 2 sides weren’t shut as he enters the fourth and last yr of his contract.
Prepare dinner, 25, is coming off the most effective season of his profession — 1,009 speeding yards,16 touchdowns on the bottom (tied for the league excessive) — and the workforce has acknowledged his significance. “He was clearly large for us final yr,” offensive coordinator Joe Brady stated. — Alaina Getzenberg
Standing: Skipped voluntary OTA practices; vowed to not play with out new contract
Hendrickson obtained a textual content from coach Zac Taylor reminding him concerning the effective 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 taking part in the ultimate yr of his present deal.
Hendrickson had been granted permission to hunt commerce provides.
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 below 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 response to a supply acquainted with the negotiations.
If the 2 sides can agree on the contract language, it ought to easy issues over with the workforce’s first-round choose. — Ben Child
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Standing: In search of contract extension
Parsons was out and in of the offseason program, however was not a part of the OTAs. He stated he can be on the minicamp, nevertheless it’s not recognized how a lot on-field work — if any — he’ll do.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer stated Parsons has remained related to the workforce even when he has not attended all the pieces. Maybe exhibiting as much as the minicamp can jump-start contract talks. — Todd Archer
Standing: Is getting launched
Information broke Monday that the Packers plan to launch Alexander. Each side have been pissed off when final season ended, with Alexander refusing to remark as a result of he wasn’t positive whether or not he’d be again with the workforce, and with the Packers disillusioned that he performed in solely seven video games for the second straight season.
The perimeters had tried to return to a revised contract however could not attain a deal, a supply stated, resulting in the Packers’ choice to maneuver on from Alexander earlier than minicamp.
Standing: Skipped your entire offseason program
In line with sources, Jenkins was OK with the Packers transferring him from guard to middle, however he needed his contract adjusted to guard in opposition to the lack of future earnings (facilities are usually paid lower than guards). Although the Packers do not normally renegotiate contracts with two years remaining, as Jenkins has on his deal, maybe they might provide to ensure some or all of his remaining cash contemplating there aren’t any ensures left on his contract. — Rob Demovsky
Standing: The workforce is looking for a commerce
Ramsey is on his method out of South Florida after simply two seasons.
Basic supervisor Chris Grier stated in April that the workforce was actively seeking 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 would possibly materialize quickly.
Standing: In search of new contract
Smith signed a two-year, $8.4 million cope with Miami final offseason and turned in the most effective statistical season by a Dolphins tight finish in historical past (88 receptions, 884 yards, 8 TDs). Now he is on the lookout for a pay enhance, 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 contract.
Although he hasn’t talked publicly because the 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 register a Steelers jersey. With Cleveland’s Myles Garrett signing a report $40 million-a-year extension earlier this offseason, Watt’s worth seemingly retains going up.
Standing: Skipped voluntary OTA practices
Though he attended greater than half of the primary two offseason exercise phases, new Steelers receiver Metcalf wasn’t noticed at any of the workforce’s OTA practices. That possible will not be the case at minicamp with Aaron Rodgers now within the fold. — Brooke Pryor
Standing: Skipped taking 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 workforce did not specific concern, as head coach Todd Bowles stated he is preserving tabs on Reddick by means 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 has all the time executed fairly than angling for an extension. He skipped the voluntary OTA classes whereas taking part in for the Saints as nicely, together with every of the previous 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 classes 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 Might 20.
Coach Dan Quinn will not be involved. “Terry’s had a fantastic offseason,” he stated.
Receiver Deebo Samuel, who held out for a number of days early within the 2022 coaching camp with San Francisco, stated, “I perceive the enterprise aspect of the issues, and when he stopped coming, I perceive his aspect of the story.”
Standing: Skipped voluntary OTA practices
Washington acquired Tunsil in a March commerce, and he has proven as much as among the voluntary offseason work. However he usually missed voluntary work whereas taking part in 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 probability he’ll be taking part in subsequent to Brandon Coleman, who will not be solely a brand new teammate but in addition new to left guard within the NFL.
However Tunsil’s monitor report of in-season success will alleviate issues. — John Keim
