NFL training camp season is upon us, which means holdout/hold-in season is too as players seek new contracts.
Bills running back James Cook agreed to a four-year, $48 million deal with $30 million guaranteed on Wednesday, ending a situation that pendulum'd from practicing eight straight days to start training camp to holding in for over a week to returning to practice on Tuesday.
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Cook was seeking $15 million per year, and while the $12 million in AAV falls short of that, the $30 million in guarantees are second only to Saquon Barkley for running backs, which is a touch Cook surely doesn't mind.
Now that Cook's deal is done, how close are the other notable holdouts/hold-ins? Let's take a look.
Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons: Kinda far
"I think it's unbelievable that there have been zero contract talks between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys," ESPN's Adam Schefter said Monday. "There has been no progress and you have to wonder where this is going." That doesn't sound like a deal is close. This should be an open-and-shut negotiation. Parsons is 26, younger than all the other market-resetting pass rushers who've recently agreed to new deals. He can make a solid argument he's better than all of them. And the Cowboys' defense desperately needs him. Dallas has a history of getting deals done late, so we're leaning on that here, but boy is it getting shaky as Parsons continues to sit out.
Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson: Close
Did you watch the same preseason opener we did? Where the Eagles' backups on offense tore through the Bengals' starters on defense? Yeah. Couple that with Hendrickson remaining engaged while holding in, and we're calling this one close. The Bengals' need is clear as day.
Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin: Far
From Yahoo Sports Senior NFL Reporter Charles Robinson, who swung through Commanders camp this past weekend:
How far apart are the two sides? Everyone is keeping the numbers tight, but the details seep out in the contract comparables. On one side, it’s the four-year, $132 million extension the Pittsburgh Steelers slotted to DK Metcalf this offseason, which included $60 million guaranteed. The other side is a little more tricky, but consider it a slightly richer version of the the four-year $92 million extension reached between Courtland Sutton and the Denver Broncos, which had $41 million in guarantees.
It’s not perfect apples to apples, but it gives you an idea of the divide between McLaurin and the Commanders. The key difference in the Metcalf and Sutton deals, aside from the significant divide in guaranteed money and annual average salary ($33 million AAV vs. $23 million AAV), is the fact that Metcalf signed his at 27 years old and with a Steelers team that was extremely (maybe desperately) motivated to keep him for a long period. Conversely, the Broncos did a risk-averse deal with a soon-to-be 30-year-old Sutton, who is at the horizon of his prime years.
So the team and the player are still far apart here. There's no outside indication teams are calling to make big offers for McLaurin, so the Commanders have no reason to budge, at least until it tangibly hurts Jayden Daniels' chances of continuing to lead the franchise forward in his second season. Doesn't feel like a deal is close here at all.
San Francisco 49ers WR Jauan Jennings: Close
We'll tag this one as "close" too, considering head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Monday that Brandon Aiyuk likely won't play until a month into the season, at least. There was also yet another injury to the 49ers' wide receiver room this week. Jennings reportedly did a light workout Monday, but hasn't practiced since reportedly aggravating a calf injury on July 27 and is seeking a new contract. With the 49ers running thin at the position, it might motivate a deal to be done soon.
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