In a normal year, this is about the time NFL teams would be working on contract extensions with some of their most important players. This is not, as you might have noticed, a normal year.
While the NFL hasn't endured an in-season disruption the way other professional leagues have, since the coronavirus pandemic struck during the offseason, the business of the league has been somewhat disrupted. Questions linger about what kind of season awaits, how much revenue will be lost if fans aren't able to attend games, and what effect that might have on the salary cap in 2021.
Teams aren't even signing their first-round draft picks, whose contracts are all pre-slotted. Only three of the 32 first-rounders have signed. In a normal year, 20 or more would have been signed by now.
So as we present to you our annual list of NFL contract extension candidates, we do so with a couple of disclaimers. One is that many teams aren't ready to talk about extensions until they get some clarity on their short-term cash flow projections and what happens to next year's salary cap. Another is that while the current expectation is that players will be able to report on time for training camps next month, that is no sure thing. And since training camp usually functions as some form of de facto deadline for these things, the possibility that report dates get moved could reduce some of the normal urgency.
Finally, one thing I was told over and over again in reporting for this story is that a lot of teams are prioritizing deals for their designated franchise players, since the deadline for doing those deals is July 15. After that date, teams cannot negotiate long-term deals with their franchise players until after the season. There are 14 teams that used the franchise tag this year, and not one of those 14 players has signed a long-term deal. That's nearly half the teams in the league facing an imminent deadline with single, specific players. If you're a guy on one of those teams who's headed into the final year of your rookie deal, you might have to wait until the franchise player gets signed or that deadline passes.
Those situations are accounted for in this year's list, which includes franchise players, players heading into the final years of their rookie deals, and some other interesting cases sprinkled throughout. Without further ado, this year's list of NFL summer extension candidates, by position:
JUMP TO A POSITION:
QB | RB | WR | OL
EDGE | DL | LB | DB
QUARTERBACKS
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
What's that? He was on last year's list too? You don't say. We've spilled a fair bit of ink and filled a fair bit of airtime discussing Prescott's contract situation over the past year, and it remains unresolved. The Cowboys have offered Prescott a significant contract extension that would make him one of the three highest-paid quarterbacks in the league, and they used the exclusive franchise tag on him, meaning his current worst-case scenario for 2020 is a one-year, fully guaranteed $31,409,000 salary and a cost to the Cowboys of $37,690,800 in 2021 if they want to franchise him a second time.
Any claim that the Cowboys don't want to pay Prescott is ludicrous and inaccurate. He has been asking for more than they've offered, and if that's still the case on July 15, we might be doing this again next year. But I expect Prescott's deal to get done at the deadline, and for him to either be the highest-paid quarterback in the league or very close to it, at least until one of these next two deals gets done.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Neither Mahomes nor the Chiefs need to do this extension this year. Mahomes has about $2.8 million in salary and bonuses coming in 2020, and the Chiefs hold a $24.8 million option on him for 2021. If they really wanted to wait, the Chiefs could franchise Mahomes in 2022. All of that said, Mahomes is 24 years old and already has a league MVP award and a Super Bowl MVP award on his résumé. The Chiefs will sign him at some point to an extension that most in the industry expect to shatter records and establish new precedents.
Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
Watson is in a similar situation as Mahomes, except that Watson's 2021 option is just $17.54 million (since he wasn't a top-10 pick). Houston doesn't have to do anything right now, and Watson would be wise to wait until at least Prescott's deal, if not Mahomes' deal, gets done. But at some point this offseason or next, don't be surprised to see Watson at or near the top of the QB pay scale.
RUNNING BACK
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
ESPN's Adam Schefter recently reported that Cook won't participate in any more Vikings offseason activities without a new deal. This is a bit of a hollow threat at this point on the calendar, since training camp is still about six weeks away. But Cook's $1.33 million 2020 salary doesn't match up with his past performance or projected role in the Minnesota offense, and it's easy to understand why he wants a raise with only one year left on that rookie deal.
The trick with running backs -- and this is a theme that will run throughout this section -- is that teams don't love to commit big dollars or years to them. For every Ezekiel Elliott and Christian McCaffrey, who set new benchmarks with extensions the past two offseasons, there's a Melvin Gordon or Tevin Coleman, who doesn't find what he's looking for on the market. Cook has missed 19 games because of injury during his three-year career. So while Minnesota would love to sign him to a long-term deal, the price has to reflect the health risk he represents.
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
Mixon is in a similar situation: heading into Year 4 of a four-year rookie deal; not a first-round pick, so there's no fifth-year option. Mixon ranks fourth in the NFL in touches (behind only Elliott, McCaffrey and Todd Gurley II) and is 10th in scrimmage yards over the past three years. He's important to whatever the Bengals' offense is planning to do going forward. Mixon hasn't threatened any holdout, and might not. There have been some extension talks already, and they could heat up once franchise player A.J. Green's situation is resolved one way or the other by July 15.
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Another fourth-year, non-first-rounder who'll be significantly underpaid relative to his role in 2020. Kamara is ninth in touches and fifth in scrimmage yards over the past three years. Of all these guys, he could be the one to score the biggest deal, given his distinctive and probably irreplaceable role in the New Orleans offense.
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Another designated franchise player, Henry is locked in for one year and $10.3 million if he and the Titans don't reach an extension deal by July 15. Henry could be a real test case for the RB market. He's essential to the team's offensive identity, but the way he runs lends itself to significant wear and tear, which is a big reason teams don't like to pay running backs. Making $9 million more this year than the Cook/Mixon/Kamara group probably keeps Henry from being a holdout threat. But if no deal is done and they franchise him again next year for $12.36 million, he'll find himself in the same position Le'Veon Bell was in with the Steelers in 2018. Remember, Bell sat out that entire year and became a free agent when it ended. Henry could go that route, but probably not until 2021.
Other potential RB extensions: There are so many guys to mention here. The Packers' second-round selection of AJ Dillon might be a sign that Aaron Jones isn't in their plans beyond this year, but he could get a new deal if he comes to the team's number. ... James Conner is the first of several Steelers on this year's list, but he has had trouble staying on the field. ... Because he was undrafted, the Broncos' Phillip Lindsay is extension-eligible even though he has played only two years. He'd be a restricted free agent at year's end, though, so Denver has some leverage. ... The Cardinals used the $8.483 million transition tag on Kenyan Drake and could work to sign him to an extension. There's no July 15 deadline for transition players. ... James White and Rex Burkhead of the Patriots each have one year left before free agency. ... Chris Carson has emerged as Seattle's workhorse, but the Seahawks might need to see another healthy season (and improved ball security) before committing long term. ... Super Bowl hero Damien Williams has a year left, but the Chiefs drafted Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the first round, which isn't a great sign for his chances. Fullback Anthony Sherman might be the more likely extension candidate in Kansas City. ... No talks yet between the Colts and Marlon Mack as he heads into his final year. ... Tarik Cohen's situation in Chicago is one worth watching. Could he be "Kamara Lite," and get a deal that reflects as much?
WIDE RECEIVERS
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A 2017 third-round pick, Godwin earned a proven performance escalator that bumped his 2020 salary up to about $2.1 million. But after finishing third in the league in receiving yards (1,333) and tied for fourth in touchdown catches (nine) in 2019, Godwin is in line for an extension that the Bucs might want to do before he has a year of catching passes from Tom Brady. It helps Godwin's chances that Rob Gronkowski will come off the books next summer, and Mike Evans' cap number will drop by $4.5 million from 2020 to 2021.
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
They've got to keep somebody to play with Jared Goff, right? After cutting Gurley and trading Brandin Cooks, expect the Rams to lock up Kupp, whose catch rate of 70.3% is fourth in the league since he was drafted in 2017.
DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals
We wouldn't usually put a guy on here who has three years left on his current contract. But since Hopkins' desire for a new deal seems to have been the reason he was unhappy in Houston -- and was ultimately traded -- you can't rule out the possibility of his new team giving him a new deal just to make sure he's happy.
A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals franchised Green and will pay him $17.971 million this year if they can't reach an extension deal by July 15. There have been contract talks between Green and the Bengals, but his situation remains mysterious after he missed the 2019 season because of injury. If he's healthy and can't come to an agreement, could Green be trade bait for WR-needy teams on the July/August market?
Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions
He led the league with 11 touchdown catches, had 1,190 receiving yards and averaged 18.31 yards per reception in a year when the Lions' QB situation fell apart. There are a lot of questions about what could happen with the coaching staff and front office if the Lions don't win this year, but there shouldn't be any questions about Golladay's place in the team's future.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers
It's going to feel as if the Steelers have someone mentioned in every position group here, which indicates that they have some tough choices to make. Smith-Schuster had a down year and fought through some health issues while the Steelers struggled at QB in 2019. It might be wise for Pittsburgh to sign him before he bounces back in 2020 with Ben Roethlisberger set to return.
Other potential WR extensions: The Chargers' Keenan Allen has at least 97 catches and at least 1,100 yards in each of his past three seasons, just turned 28 and is set to make $10.75 million in the final year of his contract. ... Jacksonville's Dede Westbrook has been targeted 101 times each of the past two years, has one year left on his rookie deal and could be in line for a solid slot receiver deal in the $9 million to $10 million per year range. ... Curtis Samuel is due for an extension in Carolina, but with DJ Moore having emerged as the team's No. 1 wideout and Robby Anderson added in free agency, some believe Samuel could be a trade candidate. ... The Titans declined Corey Davis' $15.68 million 2021 option, but they do like him and could sign him to a lower-cost, long-term deal. ... Will Fuller V's case for an extension with the Texans is obviously complicated by his injury history, but he's entering his fifth-year option season and making a little over $10 million this year. ... The Bears' Allen Robinson II and the Colts' T.Y. Hilton are both veterans who are important enough to their teams to merit consideration. ... Davante Adams in Green Bay and Stefon Diggs in Buffalo are each two years away from free agency, but the Packers have done deals with two years left before, and as we mentioned with Hopkins, Diggs' new team might be interested in extending him to make sure he's happy there.
TIGHT ENDS
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Over the past two years, Kittle ranks sixth in receiving yards and second in yards after the catch among all players -- tight ends, receivers and running backs. He's a dominant run-blocker and a heart-and-soul type character. The current top of the tight end market is the $10.5 million per year free-agent deal Austin Hooper signed with the Browns in March. The expectation around the league is that Kittle will reset the tight end market, but he makes a good case to be paid like a wide receiver. His is the contract all tight ends are watching in the hopes that it establishes a dramatic new standard for the way the position is compensated.
Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers' franchise player will make $10.607 million this year if he doesn't reach agreement on an extension by July 15.
Other potential TE extensions: The Chiefs' Travis Kelce and the Eagles' Zach Ertz each have two years left before free agency. But as similarly vital parts of their respective teams' offenses, they're watching the Kittle deal closely. ... Tennessee's Jonnu Smith is a midmarket name to watch for an extension.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens
ESPN's Jamison Hensley recently laid out the case for Stanley to set the top of the offensive tackle market. With a young, still-developing, already-MVP quarterback and a determination to grind other teams into dust with their run game, the Ravens could do worse than investing heavily in their offensive line. Stanley will make $12.866 million in his fifth-year option season this year.
David Bakhtiari, Green Bay Packers
The Packers have a few guys coming up for deals, but their Pro Bowl left tackle looks like a top priority. Bakhtiari is way underpaid relative to the market, at $11.5 million this year.
Brandon Scherff, Washington
Washington franchised Scherff, who has been a top-level guard for them and has the ability to slide out to tackle if the team ends up with a need there. Since Scherff made $12.525 million on his fifth-year option last year, his franchise-tag number is higher than the normal offensive line number (it can be no lower than 120% of his previous year's salary, by rule). So Scherff pockets a cool $15.03 million if he does nothing. It could be tough to get him to agree on an extension with all of that money already guaranteed.
Joe Thuney, New England Patriots
He'll make $14.781 million as the Patriots' franchise player this year if there's no deal by July 15. The Pats might have to extend him to knock down his cap number, since they don't have a lot of cap room right now to add anyone from the outside if they need to do so.
Other potential OL extensions: Carolina RT Taylor Moton is in line for a new deal, and his timing is good, as Jack Conklin just scored a $14 million per year deal with the Browns in free agency. ... Jacksonville LT Cam Robinson and Buffalo LT Dion Dawkins both enter the final year of rookie deals. ... Pittsburgh LT Alejandro Villanueva is one year from free agency, too, and while his salary is higher than those guys' salaries are, it's still just $5 million -- a bargain for the Steelers. ... The Lions' Taylor Decker is earning $10.3 million in his fifth-year option year in 2020. ... Trent Williams was unhappy with his contract in Washington, but so far we've heard no noise about him demanding a new one from his new team, the 49ers. ... Other guards/centers who could be candidates include Minnesota's Pat Elflein, the Colts' Ryan Kelly and maybe the Cowboys' Joe Looney if he emerges as their starting center in camp.
EDGE RUSHERS
Yannick Ngakoue, Jacksonville Jaguars
Matthew Judon, Baltimore Ravens
Bud Dupree, Pittsburgh Steelers
Shaquil Barrett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A league-high four of this year's 14 designated franchise players are edge rushers. Their salaries are different, due to the league's outdated rules that still distinguish between 4-3 defensive ends and 3-4 outside linebackers when assigning franchise-tag values to edge rushers. Ngakoue is making the defensive end salary of $17.788 million. Dupree and Barrett are making the linebacker salary of $15.828 million. Judon is making $16.808 million, since the Ravens did him a solid and agreed to meet in the middle. Dupree, Barrett and Judon all would like extensions. Ngakoue has made it clear he wants to be traded to a different team and extended by them. He could be this year's Jadeveon Clowney, who ended up being traded to Seattle late last summer after the Texans became convinced he wouldn't play for them anymore.
As of now, discussions on any of these guys have been minimal at best. Things could pick up at the July 15 deadline, but all of these salaries are significant raises for these guys, and it's possible one or all of them plays on the tag.
Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
The Browns don't have to be in a hurry here, as they have a team-friendly $15.124 million fifth-year option on Garrett for 2021. But they have been talking, they do want to keep Garrett long term, and they have a lot of contract situations coming up in the next couple of years. Don't be surprised if this is one that gets done early.
Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers
Bosa's option year is this year, and he's slated to make $14.36 million. Franchising him in 2021 would cost something in the $17 million to $18 million range. Due respect to Garrett and all of those franchise guys listed above, but this is the contract situation people around the league believe will reset the top of the pass-rusher market. Remember that Bosa and the Chargers had trouble agreeing to the details of his slotted rookie contract the year he was drafted. No rumblings of this yet, but would anyone be surprised if Bosa turned out to be a guy who held out for a new deal with one year left?
Other potential edge rusher extensions: Bosa isn't the only Chargers pass-rusher in the final year of his deal. Melvin Ingram III has $14 million coming in 2020 and nothing after. He's 31 years old. Can the Chargers keep both of these guys? ... Washington's Ryan Kerrigan is an underrated veteran leader who turns 32 in August but still plays a vital role on that defense. ... The Bengals still believe Carl Lawson has big-time ability even though it hasn't translated into sacks yet. If they don't extend him this offseason, they could be saving it for when Sam Hubbard is extension-eligible a year from now. ... Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt has two years left until free agency, since the team picked up his 2021 option, but once upon a time his brother J.J. re-upped with Houston two years early. ... Arizona's Chandler Jones has 12 more sacks than any other player in the league over the past seven years. He has two years left on his deal, but he's watching all of these situations closely.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
Jones couldn't get an extension done last summer, was franchised this summer for $16.126 million, and is still looking for that big extension. Jones followed up a 15.5-sack 2018 season with a nine-sack 2019 season and was a major factor in the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory. He has earned an extension, but he and the Chiefs haven't been able to agree on a number yet. Kansas City's complicated cap situation, along with Mahomes' impending extension, could make it tricky.
Leonard Williams, New York Giants
The Giants surprised many by franchising Williams for $16.126 million, but they might have felt they needed to keep him to justify trading for him at last year's trade deadline when they weren't in contention. The sixth overall pick in the 2015 draft, Williams has only 17.5 sacks in five NFL seasons. The Giants don't need the cap room they'd get from extending Williams. The bet here is that he plays out the season and hits free agency in March.
Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
I told you the Steelers had someone in just about every position group here. Heyward is 31 but has been a mainstay on the Steelers' defensive line with 29 sacks over the past three years. As you can see, Pittsburgh has a lot of tough decisions to make about which guys they can keep going forward.
Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers
Another guy on whom the Packers have had their eye for a while as an extension candidate. Clark is underpaid this year, earning $7.69 million on his fifth-year option. He doesn't turn 25 until October. Bet on him sticking around Green Bay for a while.
Other potential DL extensions: Dalvin Tomlinson, who enters the fourth and final year of his rookie deal, might be a better bet for a Giants DL extension than Williams. ... Don't be surprised if the 49ers do something extension-wise with 2017 sixth-rounder D.J. Jones, an underrated part of that star-studded defensive front. ... Montravius Adams could be in line for a Packers extension at a lower level than Clark's. ... The Saints probably need to see Sheldon Rankins healthy for a while before committing long term. He's coming off his third major leg injury in three years. ... Minnesota's Jaleel Johnson, New England's Adam Butler and Seattle's Poona Ford all are in line for potential extensions this summer.
LINEBACKERS
Jayon Brown, Tennessee Titans
The 2017 fifth-round pick has developed into a critical part of the Titans' defense and should get a nice extension as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal.
Raekwon McMillan, Miami Dolphins
Ditto McMillan, whose 2020 salary will be about half of Brown's because he was drafted in the second round and thus not eligible for the fourth-year proven performance escalator. This discrepancy has been corrected in the new CBA, but it doesn't kick in until the 2018 draft class, so McMillan is even thirstier for his extension than Brown is for his.
Other potential LB extensions: Tampa Bay's Lavonte David just turned 30 and heads into the final year of his deal. If the Bucs need cap space for any reason, a David extension would be a sensible way to find some. ... Anthony Walker Jr. is another 2017 fifth-rounder who has turned into a reliable starter. Walker is a part of the Colts' plans moving forward and a candidate for a summer extension.
CORNERBACKS
Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams dealt two first-round picks to the Jaguars for Ramsey. They have to sign him to an extension. The issue is, he has a solid $13.7 million coming this year and could be tempted to try to have a big year and hit the free-agent market in March. Ramsey turns 26 in October, and remains one of the best in the game at his position.
William Jackson, Cincinnati Bengals
He ended the season with a shoulder injury, and the Bengals might want to let him play out his $9.594 million option season. But he's a guy they've identified in the past as worthy of a place in their future. It would be no surprise to see them sign Jackson long term.
Shaquill Griffin, Seattle Seahawks
He hasn't excelled at taking the ball away, but Griffin has developed into a very good corner for the Seahawks, whose program is based on player development and probably believe he can continue to grow. It obviously helps that his twin brother is on the same team.
Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals
Peterson turns 30 in July and is already nearing the end of his second NFL contract. His relationship with the team hasn't appeared to be the smoothest in recent years, but there have been rumblings of contract extension talks this offseason.
Other potential CB extensions: The Packers' Kevin King is another Green Bay extension candidate as a 2017 second-rounder with no fifth-year option and no proven performance escalator. ... Desmond King is an extremely valuable player for the Chargers in the return game as well as the defense. ... Patriots slot cornerback J.C. Jackson is a sneaky candidate for an extension in New England. ... It will be interesting to see what the Eagles decide to do with Sidney Jones, who's already entering the final year of his deal, entered the league hurt and is still just 24 years old with a lot of potential. ... This list could be seriously star-studded next year, as the Saints' Marshon Lattimore, the Bills' Tre'Davious White and the Patriots' Stephon Gilmore could be vying for the title of highest-paid CB in the game. Any one of those could get an extension this summer, though they'd probably be wise to wait to see how the others do.
SAFETIES
Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos
Denver's franchise player at $11.441 million, Simmons seems like a likely candidate to get an extension before the July 15 deadline. Both sides seem interested in getting something done, and the relationship between agent and team should be a good one, since new Broncos VP of football administration Rich Hurtado's previous job was with Simmons' agent, Todd France, at CAA.
Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings surprised Harris and several teams (the Browns, Eagles, Giants among them) that were eager to take a run at him in free agency when they designated him their franchise player. There was some thought early in the offseason that they could trade Harris, though things have seemed to trend more toward the possibility of an extension since then.
Jamal Adams, New York Jets
Adams' rookie contract doesn't necessarily put the Jets in a hurry to extend him. He has $3.5 million coming this year, and the Jets hold a $9.86 million option on him for 2021. But Adams has made it very clear he wants an extension now, that he wants it to be a top-of-the-safety-market deal, and he has hinted that he might not show up for camp without one. If he makes good on that threat, the Jets probably either have to cave and give him the deal he wants (they've insisted they want to sign him) or trade him to someone who will.
Other potential safety extensions: The Colts declined Malik Hooker's fifth-year option for 2021, but it wouldn't be too shocking if they worked something out with him at a lower number. ... Keanu Neal has one year left on his deal, but his injury history probably means the Falcons will want him to play out the year and talk then. Meantime, could Damontae Kazee be a candidate for an extension in Atlanta after filling in well in Neal's absence? ... John Johnson, the Rams' 2017 third-round pick, looks like a candidate for an extension, though the Rams have other, bigger ones to work on, haven't paid big to keep safeties in recent years and just drafted two of them.