The landscape of NFL contract negotiations continues to shift under the 2020 collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Recently, the emergence of the "hold-in" tactic has become a notable strategy for players expressing contract dissatisfaction without facing the severe penalties of outright holdouts. This tactic was notably used by T.J. Watt in 2021, leading to his eventual status as the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback just before the regular season began.
The Hold-In Tactic
Under the current CBA, teams must impose substantial fines on players who miss training camp. For players beyond their rookie contracts, the fine is $50,000 per day, while rookies face a daily fine of $40,000. There's also an added penalty for missing preseason games, which costs a week's base salary per game. The training camp period stretches from a team's mandatory reporting date through the Sunday before the first regular-season game.
Only players on rookie contracts have the potential for fine forgiveness, making the "hold-in" tactic a more attractive option for veteran players. Instead of skipping training camp entirely, these players attend but limit their participation, effectively communicating their discontent while avoiding the most severe penalties. This tactic allows them to remain compliant with their contracts and league rules while leveraging their presence to negotiate better deals.
Case Studies: Aiyuk, Chase, and Jefferson
In 2024, Brandon Aiyuk is slated to earn a fully guaranteed $14.124 million on a fifth-year option. Recently, Aiyuk skipped offseason workouts, leading to a $101,716 fine for missing the mandatory June minicamp. Shortly before the start of training camp, Aiyuk also requested a trade. This maneuver places significant pressure on teams to either negotiate or trade, given the player's potential impact on the field.
Another player employing similar tactics is Ja'Marr Chase. The Cincinnati Bengals exercised a fully guaranteed $21.816 million fifth-year option for him in 2025. Despite his immense value to the team, Chase refrained from participating in team drills beyond walkthroughs during June's mandatory minicamp, signaling possible contract dissatisfaction. Chase may hold out for a new contract, although the Bengals could enforce their rights under his current contract and the CBA to end his hold-in.
"He's a key player next to Joe [Burrow]. He's our next one. He knows that. We know it," said Bengals president Mike Brown, underscoring Chase's importance to the team.
Brown added, "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 maximum penalty for breaching the NFL Player Contract's Paragraph 2 includes a one-week salary fine and a four-week suspension without pay. Additionally, any player walking out after reporting to training camp risks being placed on the reserve/left squad list, which would prevent participation for the rest of the season and freeze their contract for the following year.
High-Stakes Negotiations
The stakes in these negotiations are sky-high, as evidenced by recent extensions. Justin Jefferson secured a four-year, $140 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings, with $110 million in overall guarantees and $88.743 million fully guaranteed at signing. In Philadelphia, DeVonta Smith inked a three-year, $75 million deal with the Eagles, while Jaylen Waddle received a three-year, $84.75 million extension from the Miami Dolphins.
These lucrative contracts reflect the ever-growing value of top-performing players and the intense negotiations that come with securing such deals. Players and teams must navigate the intricacies of the CBA and balance immediate performance needs with long-term financial commitments.
As the dynamics of NFL contract negotiations continue to evolve, both sides will look for the upper hand, whether through traditional tactics or newer strategies like the hold-in. The unfolding scenarios of Aiyuk, Chase, Jefferson, and others will undoubtedly be pivotal in shaping the contractual landscape of professional football.