NFL star wide receivers to skip training, push for better deals
Three of the NFL’s top young wide receivers are set to skip their respective teams’ training sessions in the offseason, as they push for better contracts.
Wide receivers have been making the news in the offseason because of signing record-breaking contracts that have been unprecedented for their position. Now it appears that other wideouts are also seeking better deals for themselves.
NFL wide receivers: No offseason training
A.J. Brown of the Tennessee Titans, Terry McLaurin of the Washington Commanders, and Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers are not expected to join their teams’ workouts in the offseason as they negotiate better contracts.
The three players have a year left on their existing contracts and are said to be wanting to have firmed up new agreements before they engage in team training.
NFL wide receivers’ record-breaking contracts
Davante Adams signed a five-year, $142.25 million last month with the Las Vegas Raiders after he was traded by the Green Bay Packers. His contract was the biggest-ever not only for a wide receiver but also for any non-quarterback, both for total contract amount and average annual value ($28.5 million per year).
Adams’ record, however, didn’t last very long. Just one week later, Tyreek Hill inked a contract that topped Adams’ numbers. Hill reportedly wanted a bigger contract than Adams if he was to stay with the Kansas City Chiefs, and since KC already had to pay quarterback Patrick Mahomes record amounts every year, the receiver was traded to the Dolphins.
Hill signed a four-year, $120 million contract with Miami, which gives him an annual salary of $30 million, more than a million dollars higher than Adams’ pay per year.
Although Brown, McLaurin, and Samuel are not considered to be of the same caliber as Adams and Hill, they are not far behind. They can likely demand an agreement similar to that of Stefon Diggs, who signed a four-year, $104 million deal with the Buffalo Bills in the offseason.
The league’s offseason programs are voluntary, so the three players would not be fined if they choose not to participate in the workouts until they are able to work out more lucrative contracts with their respective teams.