All articles tagged with #nfl contracts
Patrick Mahomes’ seven-year, $448 million extension sets a new quarterback-market benchmark, fueling the Dolphins’ decision to move on from Tua Tagovailoa and pursue a cost-controlled option with Malik Willis. With cap relief on the horizon and the potential to add talent, Miami could gain a rebuilding window, while rival AFC East teams face pressure to keep pace.
Nick Herbig’s four-year, $100 million extension signals the Steelers view him as a core piece and raises questions about the futures of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, who signed large extensions earlier; Watt (three-year, $123 million in 2025, about $41 million per year) and Highsmith (four-year, $68 million, $17 million APY) could all coexist for a year, or the Steelers could trade one to manage cap hits: trading Watt would save about $32 million guaranteed in 2026 and incur cap charges of $10 million in 2026 and $20 million in 2027; trading Highsmith would avoid $14.5 million in 2026 with cap hits of $5.6 million in 2026 and 2027. The Herbig deal could prompt other teams to bid for Watt or Highsmith, given the high demand for pass rushers.
Detroit Lions All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell signed a four-year extension worth $81 million ($51.5 million guaranteed) through 2030, averaging about $20.3 million per year. The deal slots Campbell second in total value behind Roquan Smith and third in guaranteed money, all while Campbell is younger (26 in August) than most high-paid peers, marking a significant win for Detroit.
Saints GM Mickey Loomis said there is a contract offer on the table for Cam Jordan as the team weighs a 16th season for the defensive end, but Jordan has not signed yet, suggesting he’s weighing his options; there is no offer out to Taysom Hill, whose late-2025 remarks hinted his Saints future may be uncertain.
Detroit Lions reportedly exercised Jahmyr Gibbs's fifth-year option at $14.3 million (one-year, fully guaranteed) while declining Jack Campbell's $21.9 million option, a pricing gap driven by position grouping. The move keeps the 2023 class (Gibbs, Campbell, LaPorta, Branch) together with extensions likely to follow, though Campbell's path is more complex under the option rules.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport labeled the Dallas Cowboys’ latest contract move as proactive, praising kicker Brandon Aubrey’s four-year, $28 million extension as a record payout. The remark drew backlash from fans who view the Cowboys’ history as slow, public, and contentious in contract talks, noting Aubrey’s deal came after months of negotiations and a second-round tender. The piece also references broader contract drama surrounding players like Micah Parsons and George Pickens, highlighting the team’s ongoing renegotiation efforts.
Houston exercised the fifth-year options for QB C.J. Stroud ($25.9 million) and DE Will Anderson Jr. ($21.5 million), guaranteeing both on the roster through 2027. Stroud is extension-eligible after this season, and Houston plans to work toward a long-term deal either this year or next, as Anderson emerged as a breakout star and the duo remains the core of a rising Texans team.
Paulson Adebo, entering the second year of his three-year, $54 million Giants deal, was the only player absent from the first voluntary offseason workout day, not informing coach John Harbaugh. Dexter Lawrence and Sam Roberts were out for other reasons (trade request and surgery). Harbaugh treated the absence as a voluntary choice, while Adebo’s rough first year—12 games due to a knee injury, allowing 48 catches on 74 targets for 579 yards and two touchdowns with a 58.4 PFF grade—adds intrigue about his approach in year two and the impact of the $250k yearly workout bonuses tied to offseason participation.
Charlie Batch says Aaron Rodgers’ decision on returning to the Steelers hinges on money, with the team wanting him back but not at a $30 million price tag, while Rodgers’ camp reportedly seeks a higher one-year payday after last season’s roughly $14 million; Rodgers, who threw for 3,322 yards with 24 TDs and 7 INTs in 16 games, is 42 and market dynamics—and not just personal reasons—are shaping the timing, with no clear decision yet.
Seattle matched Jacksonville’s offer sheet for 27-year-old Jake Bobo, keeping him in Seattle through 2027 on a two-year, $5.5 million contract with $4.5 million guaranteed, a $1.75 million signing bonus, and incentives up to $7 million, per Field Yates and Tom Pelissero.
Jason Licht said Tampa Bay’s initial offer to Mike Evans was significantly higher than the 49ers’ deal, but Evans wanted a fresh chapter after last season’s playoff miss. Licht cited Evans’ competitiveness, a crowded Bucs receiving room, and the addition of Emeka Egbuka as factors in the decision, and emphasized the team did all it could to keep him. Evans signed a three-year, $42.4 million contract with $14.3 million guaranteed with San Francisco.
The Los Angeles Rams and Trent McDuffie are close to finalizing a contract extension that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback at over $30 million per season, per NFL Network insiders, days after his blockbuster trade from Kansas City. The deal would follow his 2026 fifth-year option of $13.63 million and would cement him as a defensive centerpiece for a Rams title run, as several corners already sit on $100 million+ deals.
Minnesota restructured TE T.J. Hockenson’s contract to create about $5 million in cap space for 2026, keeping him on the roster; his 2026 cap hit is reduced from about $21.3 million while his base salary remains $15.4 million with minor bonuses, and he remains a key piece after a strong 2023 season.
With free agency approaching, the 49ers and star left tackle Trent Williams are at odds over trimming his roughly $39 million cap hit for 2026; a resolution could keep Williams in SF, but releasing him would incur heavy dead-cap costs and there’s no clear heir at left tackle.
Seattle's Jaxon Smith-Njigba, three years into his rookie deal, says he deserves to be the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver and expects a lucrative second contract that could average over $40.25 million per year, potentially surpassing Ja’Marr Chase’s current record-setting deal; he emphasizes patience and readiness for the right timing and terms.