Three of the top wide receivers currently on their rookie contracts are taking steps to apply pressure to their respective teams regarding new deals. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown and Terry McLaurin are among the players not expected to take part in the on-field portion of their clubs’ offseason programs (Twitter link). 
Those three were taken in the second and, in McLaurin’s case, third round of the 2019 Draft. As a result, Samuel and Brown are scheduled to make just under $4MM in 2022, while McLaurin is due $2.79MM. Those figures rank each player far lower down the list of wideout salaries than they will be when they sign a second contract, especially given the upward trend seen in the WR market this offseason.
Extensions signed by Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and Stefon Diggs are chief among the new deals comfortably averaging more than $20MM per season. As a result of other lucrative contracts handed out over the past month, the number of wideouts set to make or eclipse that mark is now nine. Between that fact, and the expected surge in the salary cap ceiling in the near future, a number of young receivers will be requesting sizeable new pacts as early as possible.
Samuel has long been named as a top financial priority for the 49ers. In 2021 especially, he demonstrated his unique ability in both the passing and running games, posting 1,770 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns. That led to a report last week claiming he will be seeking around $25MM per season.
Brown, meanwhile, had his worst statistical season in 2021. In 13 games, he still totalled 869 receiving yards and averaged nearly 14 yards per catch. He has two 1,000-yard seasons and a Pro Bowl to his name, and extension talks have begun between him and the Titans. As for McLaurin, his production despite inconsistent QB play has been impressive; he has recorded 222 receptions for 3,090 yards and 16 scores, making his extension a priority for Washington.
As Schefter notes, McLaurin will still attend the Commanders’ program, which starts today. Still, the fact that he and the others will not be on the field signals their desire to get extended before the final year of their rookie deals begins in the fall.
bunch of crybabies, wahh.. wahh… I want to be the NFL’s highest paid receiver by 100k, when on earth does this bidding stop, will we really see in the future 45 million per year wide receivers, or will the teams actually put their foot down and say, how about no.
Two of those guys are making $4 million. One of them is making $3 million. None of them have anything more than that guaranteed. Any of them could have their future earnings devastated by one wrong play. Any of them would more than double their career earnings with one season at half their market value. All of them have given their teams tons of surplus value. They should get new deals. The only one I see crying is you.
I remember WR’s like Jerry Rice, only made 23 million his whole carrer, played greatly still, did not cry on social media and leave his team, made the HOF. Today all these WR’s care about is making more money then they’re counterparts and getting that bag and heading out, they dont care about the game as much as you would want them too. Also, 4 million if you did not waste could sustain you your whole life, I get trying to set up your family, but who needs 30 million, dont you want your team to do good?
Jerry Rice didn’t show up to training camp in 1992 because he wanted more money (And he got it). So your memory of Jerry Rice is incorrect. Probably because it wasn’t on social media lol.
Social Media wasn’t around when Rice was playing. Also, 23M back then was a whole lot more than 23M today. Ridiculous comment all around.
Hypothetical here Cubs, so you bought a house in 1985 for $100k. Since your purchase, the surrounding neighborhood has turned into a gem neighborhood. New top rated schools have been built within walking distance. A new shopping center with a Costco is by the new park which is by your new church. Other homes near yours are selling for $700k. Yours is of similar value. You want to sell cuz you’re planning on relocating. So you sell it for $100k. Your neighbors are furious cuz you just brought the values of their homes down. You can do what you want. Free country. Just don’t tell them you moved to communist Russia.
Also refusing to partake in camps which make them better and more ready for the season is not gonna make teams think, wow this guy really cares about our team and wants to be the best.
Where to begin?
-$4 million after taxes and agent’s cut isn’t all that huge an amount, especially when your market value is drastically higher.
-Owners make even more without risking their bodies. Heck, many kickers make more. Roger Goodell makes ten times more.
-Of course players make much more than they did decades ago, with inflation, free agency, expanded revenue, and an extra game.
-These guys need off-season camp to get better? Come on.
-Jerry Rice didn’t complain on social media. Really think about that one.
Exactly. And will hinder they’re ability to perform during the season in order to put up numbers to get that next contract.
So? No one forced them to sign the contracts they’re on now. They can find other suitable employment if that’s there wish. In the mean time…. Man up and honor your commitment. I think it’s hysterical that they don’t want to give money back back when they’ve had a bad year. Or still collecting they’re pay checks while they are injured.
That is the business you chose
They are forced to sign the contracts they have now. The rookie contracts are pre determined. If they want to play and have a shot a future earnings they are forced to sign them.
Wanting to ensure you and your families financial future is understandable when you have a chance to lose everything in one play gone wrong.
I honestly can’t believe how many out of touch comments we see from people on here haha tell me you are a boomer without telling me you are a boomer. Hahaha
Well… the practices are “voluntary” so that is actually following the contract.
It’s business. Get over it snowflake.
There is asking for fair value then being unreasonable
Wide receivers getting 12 targets at most are not the second most important positions on the field
This draft class offers great skill at a cost that doesn’t prohibit continued success bc you have to release other quality players
The biggest component for the contract is not waste or write off yrs on the back end but rather guaranteed money
Better to ask for 10-11 million per year with large guaranteed money vs an ego per average which will never be paid to these athletes
Then get ready to lose them in free agency. When Tyreek costs $30 m per year ON TOP of all those draft picks, you’re well advised to hold onto a young star. It’s not like every wide receiver drafted high turns out to be Justin Jefferson. But the number you cite is nowhere near the reality of the market.
Prima donna wide receivers are a dime a dozen.
Like running backs, they have a short shelf life and are not worth the drain on the salary cap. You’re better off taking that money and investing in other position players — such as defenders — that actually make a difference.
Remind me again how many Super Bowl rings Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, et al. have?
Maybe but Pro Bowl WRs are $300 M a dozen these days
Receivers are way, way more valuable than running backs and have a much longer shelf life, generally. And why does it make someone a Prima Donna to want to be paid competitively for what they do? Especially when it’s a risky, punishing job that could end at any time.
I find it so strange that this issue is so polarizing. It runs both ways – if you believe you aren’t properly being paid for your services and think you can get that to happen, than that makes sense. that said, there is something to be said about having signed a contract already and honoring it. really, if so many NFL players think they should get paid more, they should request rookie contracts last less time or be more negotiable.
There’s essentially nothing negotiable in rookie deals. There are drastic limits on what they can make and they generally have zero control over who employs them or where. Why should they prioritize honoring the last year of that deal like it was an even mutual commitment instead of negotiating for more the first chance they get?
Too many people forget the days of rookies coming in and negotiating obscene contracts.
In every job, every one of them, you work your way up. All 3 have done that. But they signed essentially 5 year deals. That’s fine but if they think they deserve something on the scale of the contracts handed out, that’s pretty wild.
They literally all signed four year contracts and are entering their walk years. If their teams don’t extend them before next offseason, they’ll either have to franchise them or compete to sign them as UFAs when the cap goes up a lot.
You’re right; none of them were first rounders.
My point stands though. If you say “I’m not showing up without a deal” you’re essentially proving why a team might not want to. Today, players have more power especially after that rookie deal expires. So I don’t blame the teams who say, “let’s wait to negotiate” because at that point, go get your money, kid.
That’s where we are at. Adams and Hill should never leave their teams. But if a team doesn’t want to pay them and sends them to a team that does and can, get that money.
I just don’t feel bad when guys on rookie deals hold out because the old system was asinine.
I’d rather the guys doing the work, risking their well-being, and sacrificing their bodies get paid too much than way too little. These guys have all been worth many times what they’ve made and the CBA made it impossible for them to get extensions any earlier. I don’t mind them playing hardball once they’re finally allowed to—but this isn’t even hardball. They’re not holding out, they’re skipping voluntary offseason workouts. Who even cares? Why risk their bodies? It’s not like they’d even be learning new offenses or anything.
You must not have read the part where it says ANY of the offseason program.
McLaurin has already dispelled it on his side and I think it’s the smarter play. He’s the oldest of the group and the most productive with maybe the worst situation. You know if you figure out the QB position that he’s going to pop and I think he knows his own team recognizes that.
It’s not about not letting these guys get paid. I’m all for it. But having sat through guys like Bradford and Russell getting stupid contracts before ever playing left a sour taste for not playing out the rookie deal. If you don’t wanna sacrifice your body for the contract, get an office job. I don’t think it’s a good excuse for why they should hold out. As I said, this is the only point the owners/GMs have any leverage. Past that, it’s the players world.
Nah, it’s still an owners’ world. Non-guaranteed money, an extra game, franchise tags, even the salary cap.
Non-guaranteed money is on the player. It’s a choice guys make to bet on themselves to get more. But too many players have proven you can get your guaranteed money to say it’s not possible.
That’s just not true. Other sports largely have to guarantee contracts and the NFL doesn’t.
Again, that is on the player. Players choose more potential money rather than negotiating guaranteed money. Watson literally just got 160M guaranteed coming off multiple sexual assault. If you’re telling me that guys can’t get more money, I’m gonna point out that it’s pretty much on the players. Again, no one forces these guys to sign upside deals.
That’s a ridiculous assertion. It’s clear that teams didn’t care all that much about the allegations, given the bidding war. He was a 26-year old superstar QB with a no-trade clause. That’s not indicative of what other players could choose to do. He got $80 million more guaranteed than the second most in history–and second most in history is a hall of fame QB who signed his deal this offseason. The first non-QB on the list is a former top five pick who got almost $130 million less in guarantees. The idea that even very good players, let alone run of the mill players, have only themselves to blame for not getting more in guarantees is nonsense. The non-guaranteed money in contracts isn’t an upside gamble on the part of players. If it’s an upside play for anyone, it’s for the teams. More often it’s just funny money for accounting purposes.
K bud.
Lol. Calling me a patronizing name is the same thing you did last time I countered one of your comments with actual logic and fact.
No there is no reason to pursue a conversation with someone who ignores any point made but their own.
You countered with your opinion. Me bringing up actual contracts like Watson or even Kirk cousins would be a fact. In an offseason where players moved at will because they wanted more money, it proved that they wield more power once off a rookie deal.
You ignoring any part of that means this isn’t a meaningful conversation I will continue to pursue. You feeling patronized is a you problem.
You used outliers to try to make a more general point. You said something false. Multiple things, in fact, including a fundamental misunderstanding of NFL salaries. And I never said I felt patronized. I described your response.
Again, ignoring the totality of what is said. So again, “k, bud”
I didn’t. I responded to it. But hey, since you brought up Watson, I’ll respond again. Watson was a young star QB with a no trade clause. He got $80 million more guaranteed than anyone else in league history and $128 million more than the record for a non-QB. How can you treat him as representative of what players in general could be bargaining for?
Well said oooof. The non qb thing especially is huge. Kyle you can’t keep saying guarantees are achievable for most players when really they aren’t if you’re not a QB. It’s just not how 98% of non-QB contracts work.
Y’all crazy. Squeeze all the money out before that CTE hit. As fans. We will all soon pay the CTE tax. These guys are top top class. I hope Seahawks get AJ brown cheap and extend him. Cunningham in 2023 and we are indeed 2023 Super Bowl champions.
Why would seattle get him cheap? Furthermore, why would they attempt to acquire him and extend him when they have their own WR to extend?
Because he can’t finish a catch. Fox his inability to finish a catch and have the most dynamic wr squad of all time. Jesus Christ.
This is potentially the dumbest response you could come up with. Inability to finish a catch? He was doubled most of the time because his running mate was out most of the season. Tannehill had a 125+ rating in both seasons throwing to him prior to him not having a legitimate receiver opposite him.
No one would land Brown for less than a first and second. And then they’d have to pay him. While paying Metcalf. And Lockett.
How you can’t put that together is odd.
This year I’m a bronco fan just to watch them suck. Gotta get the league pass.
Are there actually fans out there that thought other positional players would be content with their current financial status after seeing the mega dollar extensions QBs are getting?
Every dollar they make means another game you can’t afford to go to. Make TV deals pay for these contracts, leave the game day fans alone!
The TV networks pass the costs onto the sponsors who pass the costs onto the public who buy their products…so whether you attend games or not your going to get clipped.