The landscape of NFL contract negotiations has dramatically evolved under the 2020 collective bargaining agreement (CBA). One of the most notable shifts has been the rise of the "hold-in" tactic, a maneuver players employ to express dissatisfaction with their current contracts without resorting to outright holdouts.
Hold-Ins and Fines
The CBA mandates that teams impose fines on players who miss training camp. Veterans, those beyond their rookie contracts, face a hefty fine of $50,000 per day, whereas rookies incur a $40,000 daily penalty. Additional penalties target specific groups, such as unrestricted free agents and first-round picks playing under their fifth-year options, with fines escalating to a week's base salary for each missed preseason game.
The training camp period extends from a team's mandatory reporting date through the Sunday before the first regular-season game. Notably, only players on rookie contracts have potential reprieve from these fines under the current CBA.
Case Studies: Watt, Aiyuk, and Chase
T.J. Watt's use of the "hold-in" tactic in 2021 set a precedent. Watt remained at camp while avoiding active participation in practice, ultimately securing a record-breaking deal as the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback shortly before the season opener.
Brandon Aiyuk, addressing similar contract dissatisfaction, skipped offseason workouts and faced a $101,716 fine for missing the mandatory June minicamp. Aiyuk's maneuvering culminated in a trade request just before the start of training camp. Despite these actions, Aiyuk is slated to earn a fully guaranteed $14.124 million in 2024 on a fifth-year option.
Ja'Marr Chase, another high-profile example, refrained from team drills beyond walkthroughs during June's mandatory minicamp. The Cincinnati Bengals exercised a fully guaranteed $21.816 million fifth-year option for Chase in 2025. However, Chase's reluctance to play without a new contract hangs over the team. Bengals president Mike Brown succinctly captured the sentiment, stating, "He's a key player next to Joe [Burrow]. He's our next one. He knows that. We know it." The Bengals might enforce their rights under Chase's contract and the CBA to end his hold-in, which could include significant penalties.
The Harsh Realities and Potential Penalties
NFL contracts contain stringent clauses to address non-compliance. Players absent from training camp risk being placed on the reserve/left squad list, which not only prevents participation for the remainder of the season but also freezes the player's contract for the subsequent year. The maximum penalty for a breach or violation of Paragraph 2 in the NFL Player Contract is severe—a fine of one week's salary and a four-week suspension without pay.
Recent Big Contracts
Beyond the hold-ins and contract disputes, several notable extensions have been signed recently. Justin Jefferson inked a substantial four-year, $140 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings, including $110 million in overall guarantees and $88.743 million fully guaranteed at signing. Meanwhile, DeVonta Smith secured a three-year, $75 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Jaylen Waddle received a three-year, $84.75 million extension from the Miami Dolphins.
Bengals president Mike Brown provided a thoughtful perspective on the overall contract negotiations, emphasizing a focus on football while not entirely ruling out off-season 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 said.
As the NFL continues to evolve under the latest CBA, the strategies employed by players and the responses from management will shape the league's competitive and financial landscape for years to come.