The NFL's contract negotiation landscape has been significantly reshaped under the 2020 collective bargaining agreement (CBA), with players employing novel tactics to express their displeasure with contract terms. Among these tactics, the "hold-in" is fast becoming a popular choice for players looking to leverage their positions without incurring the stiff penalties associated with missing training camp. This strategy represents a crucial adaptation in the ever-evolving dynamics of professional football contract negotiations.
Tactics and Penalties
Under the current CBA, players who miss training camp are subject to mandatory fines, a significant shift from previous agreements. For players beyond their rookie contracts, the cost of missing camp is steep—$50,000 per day. Rookies face a slightly reduced penalty of $40,000 per day. Additionally, there are severe penalties for missing preseason games, which target unrestricted free agents and first-round picks playing under their fifth-year options. Each missed preseason game can cost a player a week's base salary.
Training camp fines are amongst the highest in professional sports, an indication of how seriously the NFL takes player participation in preseason preparations. The period in question spans from the team's mandatory reporting date through the Sunday before the first regular-season game. Interestingly, only those on rookie contracts have the potential for fine forgiveness under the current CBA, providing a slight benefit to the league's newest players.
Case Studies: T.J. Watt, Brandon Aiyuk, and Ja'Marr Chase
The "hold-in" tactic was notably used by T.J. Watt in 2021. Watt's maneuver paid off handsomely, as he secured the highest-paid non-quarterback contract in the NFL just days before the regular season began. This landmark negotiation set a precedent and demonstrated that players could wield significant power even without stepping off the training field.
Brandon Aiyuk has also become a focal point in discussions about modern NFL contract negotiations. Aiyuk, set to earn a fully guaranteed $14.124 million in 2024 on his fifth-year option, missed offseason workouts and incurred a $101,716 fine for skipping the mandatory June minicamp. His dissatisfaction with his contract situation culminated in a trade request just before the start of training camp, spotlighting the financial and contractual pressures high-performing players face.
Conversely, Ja'Marr Chase has taken a slightly different approach. Although the Cincinnati Bengals exercised his fifth-year option, guaranteeing him $21.816 million in 2025, Chase has avoided participation in team drills beyond walkthroughs during mandatory minicamps. There is speculation that he might not play without securing a new contract. Bengals president Mike Brown acknowledged Chase's significance to the team, stating, "He's a key player next to Joe [Burrow]. He's our next one. He knows that. We know it." Despite the looming contractual impasse, Brown mentioned, "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."
The Bengals hold the contractual and CBA-granted rights to potentially end Chase's hold-in. The most severe penalty for breaching Paragraph 2 of the NFL Player Contract includes a fine of one week's salary and a four-week suspension without pay. Additionally, should a player walk out after reporting to camp, they risk being placed on the reserve/left squad list, effectively freezing their contract and rendering them ineligible to play for the remainder of the season.
The High Stakes of Star Players
Several high-profile players have recently signed lucrative extensions, signaling the high stakes and intense negotiations often involved. Justin Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings, a deal that includes $110 million in overall guarantees and $88.743 million fully guaranteed at signing. DeVonta Smith inked a three-year, $75 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, while Jaylen Waddle secured a three-year, $84.75 million extension from the Miami Dolphins.
These substantial contracts reflect the immense value placed on top-tier talent in the NFL and underscore the lengths teams are willing to go to retain their star players. As these negotiations continue to evolve, the CBA and players' strategies will undoubtedly shape the future landscape of NFL contracts, making it an area ripe for ongoing scrutiny and analysis.