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NFL holdouts appear to be on the rise this offseason

By George Stockburger

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 03: Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on from the sidelines against the Baltimore Ravens at Georgia Dome on September 3, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 03: Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on from the sidelines against the Baltimore Ravens at Georgia Dome on September 3, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Several NFL stars have already declared their desires for new contracts

NFL mandatory minicamps are starting this week and several of the NFL’s most prominent stars have already declared they will not attend.

Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones announced on social media he would wait for a new deal before attending any workouts. News broke on Tuesday that Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan will not attend despite GM Jon Robinson saying there have been five-six weeks worth of contract negotiations.

Also coming out on Tuesday was news that Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson would not be present for minicamp. Johnson is coming off an injury-plagued season that kept him out for all but one game. Johnson’s 2016 season saw him earn All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors with a league-high 2,118 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns.

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Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Oakland Raiders pass rusher Khalil Mack, and Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas have already been noncommittal about attending camp until their contracts are renegotiated.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell held out for OTAs and held out of nearly all of last offseason before reporting for week one. He received the franchise tag for a second consecutive year and is owed $14.544 million.

Nearly every player in that group of holdouts could be considered a top-30 player in the NFL. Even more names could emerge as holdouts once training camp approaches, but the sheer number of holdouts already this year is astounding.

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Three of those players are first round picks from 2014 who enter this year under the fifth-year option on their rookie contracts. Mack will earn $13.846 million (seventh most at his position), Lewan $9.341 million (17th), and Donald $6.892 million (25th) this season.

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Johnson is still playing under his rookie deal, worth $2,066,844 before he’s slated to hit free agency or receive the franchise tag from Arizona. For one of the best running backs in football, when healthy, that number is incredibly low and with Johnson’s injury history he’s right to hold out for as much as he can get.

Jones is in the third year of his second contract, but he’s currently being paid the seventh-highest at his position. The 29-year-old still has over $39 million left over three years of his current contract.

Contracts are only getting bigger, and with the increase of ACL injuries last year players want and need to cash in when they can. Even more important to note is that 31 of the 51 ACL injuries suffered in the NFL last year happened before the regular season began.

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Meanwhile, Rob Gronkowski and Odell Beckham Jr. both reported to their respective camps despite contract negotiations ongoing. Beckham Jr. is coming off an ankle injury and participated in individual drills, but not team drills.

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