NFL holdout watch has hit its apex with Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb failing to report to training camp and San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk demanding a trade. As the NFL off-season rolls along, the annual tradition of players skipping team activities to angle for new contracts quickly comes to the fore. This year, many Pro Bowl and All-Pro level talents feel their play on the field has fair exceeded their current contracts.
Let's dive into the long (and growing) list of NFL players on holdout watch with training camp underway.
NFL Holdout Watch 2024
Ceedee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys star receiver CeeDee Lamb is holding out for a new deal after a spectacular 2023 season. He led the league with a 135 receptions, was second with 1,749 receiving yards, and third with 12 touchdowns. Lamb now wants to be paid fair market value rather than playing on his $17.99M fifth-year option.
Cowboys owner and General Manager Jerry Jones appears unfazed that his offensive star has yet to report to training camp. Jones merely said "holdouts happen all over the league", before saying "I'm used to this." However, Dallas' head honcho will want to get this situation sorted sooner than later, as Lamb, quarterback Dak Prescott and star pass-rusher Micah Parsons are all looking for new deals this off-season.
The Cowboys hesitance to re-sign their stars is perplexing. Justin Jefferson's market-setting four-year, $140M contract with $110M guaranteed has set the benchmark for a Lamb deal, while Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love's contracts have sent Prescott's price into the stratosphere. Parsons will undoubtedly push to become the highest paid pass-rusher in NFL history. Jones is costing himself, and the team's salary cap more money as the days go by.
This situation seems destined to drag on, with Lamb rightfully demanding to be the highest paid receiver in NFL history, and the Cowboys dragging their feet. Since he's still on his rookie contract, the Cowboys can wave all fines accrued for missed practices, and there is no financial risk on the former Oklahoma star's end. At the end of the day, Lamb IS the Dallas Cowboys offense, and he'll eventually get this wish.
Projected CeeDee Lamb holdout outcome: Lamb signs a four-year, $142M contract with $115M guaranteed.
Haason Reddick, New York Jets
Haason Reddick is the strangest story of the NFL off-season. For some unknown reason Jets General Manager Joe Douglas passed on re-signing the ascending talents of Bryce Huff, of the 25.2% pass-rush win rate. He then decided to trade a third-round pick for Reddick once the accomplished pass rusher became available.
Now, Reddick is one of the best sack artists of the last five years, and the Jets are all in on this season. Nevertheless this is a perplexing move. Letting an outstanding young rusher who you had in the building for four years walk and then trading for an older guy that became available after Philadelphia paid your player a very reasonable $17M is bad business.
The fact that Reddick is now demanding to be paid in line with the best pass rushers in the NFL makes it a Jets nightmare. A former first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals, Reddick is tied for sixth in NFL sacks over the past five years, with the now-retired Aaron Donald and Chris Jones. The only players ahead of him are a who's who of NFL pass-rushers in Maxx Crosby, Nick Bosa, Trey Hendrickson, Myles Garrett, and T.J. Watt. The Temple alum wants to be paid like the big boys and is reportedly seeking a deal in excess of $25 million per year.
Reddick's situation is a real head scratcher that seems likely to extend deep into the off-season.
Projected Holdout Outcome: Reddick misses most of training camp before being traded elsewhere for a future third-round pick.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst acknowledged that quarterback Jordan Love would be holding out of training camp until he gets a new contract. The 26th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft exploded onto the scene with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading the Packers all the way to the precipice of the NFC Championship game.
Gutenkunst is no liar as he and Love's representatives came to an agreement on Saturday. Love is undoubted the quarterback of the future in Green Bay. He wants to be in Green Bay and the Packers are thrilled to have him continue over thirty years of elite quarterback play at 1265 Lombardi Avenue.
Holdout Update: Jordan Love signed a four-year extension $220 extension with $155M guaranteed.
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Aiyuk demanded a trade last Tuesday morning, bringing his whirlwind off-season saga back to the fore of NFL news. It's his last play, perhaps the final piece towards pushing the 49ers into a new deal. However, General Manager John Lynch seems unwilling to budge.
The 49ers reportedly have no desire to trade Aiyuk and have stated that he remains a foundational piece of their team as they chase a Super Bowl title. Although, he's done everything in his power to publicly put pressure on the organization.
A publicised video call with former Arizona State teammate, and current Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has done little to dispel rumors that Aiyuk's time in San Francisco is at an end.
With so many highly paid players – Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Nick Bosa, Javon Kinlaw, Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw all make over $10M/year – Lynch has to draw the line somewhere.
Aiyuk reportedly wants a contract that exceeds the deal signed by Detroit Lions standout Amon-Ra St. Brown, who now makes about $28 million per year. As things stand the financially depleted 49ers are reluctant to meet those demands. No. 11 led the team with 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 and looks ready to publicly vie for a new contract.
Things could get ugly in this one. Aiyuk has every right to fight for his own bag and seems to be prepared to dig in. Expect Brandon Aiyuk to either holdout through training camp or be traded before the 2024 NFL season. Any time he misses will only open up training camp (and fantasy) opportunities for first round draft pick Ricky Pearsall.
Projected Holdout Outcome: Brandon Aiyuk holds out through training camp.
Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Ja'Marr Chase will reportedly opt for a hold-in. He's at minicamp but only taking part in meetings and walkthroughs. Regardless, it appears the Bengals will be forced to meet his demands.
However, it's important to remember, Cincinnati has a history of only offering guaranteed money in the first year of contracts. A stipulation that lost them standout tackle Andrew Whitworth and has led to many free agents choosing alternate destinations over the years. Ownership wilted for Joe Burrow's contract last year, and they will have to do the same for his running mate.
Chase will almost certainly aim to exceed the four year, $140 million extension his former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson just signed with the Minnesota Vikings. The Bengals are in no position to play hard ball here. Cincinnati's offensive efficiency nosedives without No. 1 on the field.
Projected Holdout Outcome: Chase signs a 4-year, $144 million extension making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with just under $100 million guaranteed.
Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers stalwart Cameron Heyward is sitting out of minicamp in the hopes of signing a contract extension. He's entering the final year of a four-year, $65 million deal he signed in 2020, but feels his play has far exceeded those terms.
Heyward has amassed six Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro honors in his career. That being said, the 35-year-old missed six games with a groin injury last year, and hardly looked himself while on the field. He had just two sacks in 2023, which were the second fewest of his career.
The 2011 first-round pick is in no hurry to leave the only NFL team he's ever known, stating "the goal is to be a Steeler for the rest of my career", on social media. Even so, the Steelers won't be in a rush to give a player now on the wrong side of 35 a raise. Expect to see Heyward and the team agree to terms with added guaranteed money to ensure he finishes his career in the Steel City.
Projected Holdout Outcome: Heyward signs a 2-year, $34 million extension, with $24 million guaranteed.
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has expressed his desire for a new contract. Surprisingly, he did report to OTAs earlier this month, however the 7th-year wideout is unhappy with his current deal and will consider holding out from training camp.
Like many on this NFL holdout watch list, Sutton is due $13.6 million this season, but has no guarantees left in 2025. He wants an extension, and a raise after hauling in 10 touchdowns for Sean Payton's moribund offense last year.
With young players in Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin aiming to ascend the depth chart, don't expect to see Sutton sign a massive extension. He'll likely be forced to accept a nice purse of guaranteed money added to his current deal, or be traded during the season.
Projected Holdout Outcome: Broncos give Sutton $8 million guaranteed in 2025.
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Kamara skipped the final days of Saints minicamp last month in search off a more lucrative contract. He has just two years remaining on his contract and is set to be paid $11.8 million this season. The problem is all of the $25 million Kamara is due next year is non-guaranteed, and he's looking to secure his football, and financial futures.
The 2017 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is allegedly a threat to hold out if a new deal doesn't materialize before the end of July. Although, ESPN reports that Kamara and his camp are willing to rework his deal to include more guaranteed money in 2025. He's also supposedly working out and communicating with both teammates and coaches daily.
Kamara has reported for training camp as he awaits a new deal. He's got to be chomping at the bit to play the Christian McCaffrey role in new Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's offense.
Predicted Holdout Outcome: Saints sign Alvin Kamara to a 2-year, $35 million extension with $20 million guaranteed.