The landscape of NFL contract negotiations has dramatically shifted under the current 2020 collective bargaining agreement (CBA). A new tactic known as the "hold-in" has emerged, allowing players to express their contract dissatisfaction without skipping mandatory events, thereby avoiding hefty fines.
Under the stipulations of the updated CBA, teams must impose fines on players who miss parts of training camp. Players who are beyond their rookie contracts face a fine of $50,000 per day, while rookies incur a $40,000 fine per day for their absence. The penalties escalate with the preseason games, as missing such an event results in a deduction of a week's base salary for each game missed.
The training camp period stretches from a team's mandatory reporting date to the Sunday before the first regular-season game. While only those on rookie contracts have a potential for fine forgiveness, veteran players must tread cautiously around these severe penalties.
A New Strategy Emerges: The Hold-In
Players have increasingly adopted the "hold-in" strategy to circumvent financial repercussions. Perhaps the most notable instance of this tactic was by T.J. Watt in 2021. Watt participated minimally in team activities until he secured his desired contract, making him the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback just before the season opener.
Interestingly, this tactic didn’t take long to catch on. Brandon Aiyuk, currently under a fully guaranteed $14.124 million fifth-year option for 2024, employed a similar strategy. Aiyuk skipped offseason workouts and, as a result, faced a $101,716 penalty for missing the mandatory June minicamp. Compounding his dissatisfaction, he requested a trade shortly before the start of training camp.
The Case of Ja'Marr Chase
Ja'Marr Chase is another prominent player employing a form of the "hold-in" tactic. Although he did not participate in team drills beyond walkthroughs during June’s mandatory minicamp, the Cincinnati Bengals exercised a fully guaranteed $21.816 million fifth-year option for him in 2025. Given Chase's importance to the team, the Bengals are under immense pressure to secure his services. As Bengals president Mike Brown stated, "He's a key player next to Joe [Burrow]. He's our next one. He knows that. We know it."
The tension is palpable, and Chase's potential absence has prompted speculation on whether the Bengals can enforce their rights under his contract and the existing CBA to end his hold-in. Should Chase's hold-in continue, the maximum penalty for violating Paragraph 2 in the NFL Player Contract includes a one-week salary fine and a four-week suspension without pay.
The stakes are high not just for Chase but for any NFL player considering such acts of defiance. A player who walks out after reporting to training camp risks being placed on the reserve/left squad list, effectively ending their season and freezing their contract for the following year.
Big Contracts Reflect High Stakes
The NFL's current climate of contract negotiation has led to several players securing massive deals. Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million extension, which includes $110 million in overall guarantees and $88.743 million fully guaranteed at signing. Meanwhile, DeVonta Smith inked a three-year, $75 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Jaylen Waddle secured a three-year, $84.75 million extension from the Miami Dolphins.
These enormous contracts epitomize the financial and strategic gamesmanship inherent in modern NFL negotiations. As Brown noted, the offseason remains the best period for contract disputes and negotiations. "The offseason is a better time for that, and we're going to try to keep focused on the football part. I'm not going to rule anything out, but I will tell you that the die has probably been cast," Brown remarked, emphasizing the delicate balance teams must strike between financial obligations and on-field performance.
In conclusion, the NFL's ever-evolving landscape of contract negotiations continues to challenge teams and players alike. As athletes like T.J. Watt, Brandon Aiyuk, and Ja'Marr Chase navigate these complex waters, their decisions not only impact their careers but also shape the strategies of future negotiations within the league.