Sportsnaut
Training camp in the National Football League is fast approaching and that means plenty of star players will be off the practice field, holding out for a new contract. With NFL revenue skyrocketing, salaries are climbing higher and higher with each big deal.
Now, we’re projecting what some of the top NFL contract extensions for stars like T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson and Terry McLaurin could look like.
Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt is obviously targeting the Myles Garrett contract (4 years, $160 million) as his number to beat in a new deal. The issue for Pittsburgh seems to be the length and necessary total guarantees ($123-plus million) to give to a 31-year-old who has had some durability issues in recent years. However, Pittsburgh has sort of boxed itself in with an all-in approach, and it can’t really afford to have a disgruntled Watt in a contract year. Negotiations might get ugly, and there’s a legitimate chance a deal isn’t signed until the first week of September, but an agreement will be reached. At a $161 million total value, Watt’s $40.25 million AAV just surpasses Garrett’s.
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The Buffalo Bills front office has a history of letting its top running backs play out their contract and then replacing them with someone in the NFL Draft. Right now, it appears the organization is taking a different course with James Cook. A Pro Bowl selection in consecutive seasons, Cook’s growth as a pass-catcher, paired with his efficiency running the football (4.9 yards per carry average on 533 attempts), merits a new deal. A $14.2 million AAV would place him fourth at his position, a reasonable compromise. As for the contract length, it would essentially be two years of guaranteed money, with the final season offering Buffalo a clear path to making him a cap casualty without a big financial hit.
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It remains absurd that NFL teams let Kyle Hamilton fall to the Baltimore Ravens at the 14th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has already become one of the best defensive backs in the NFL, earning All-Pro honors in consecutive seasons. It’s now time for Baltimore to reward the 24-year-old with a contract that reflects his production and value. A four-year extension would match the length of the deals Kerby Joseph and Antoine Winfield Jr. received. However, Hamilton would truly be resetting the market at safety with a $1.5 million AAV bump over what Joseph makes. Given how indispensable Hamilton is to the Ravens’ defense, allowing him to reset the market by $1.5 million is worth it.
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