As we move through NFL mandatory minicamps this month and gear up for the start of 2023 training camps at the end of July, a handful of big-name players are amid negotiations for new contracts. So we checked in around the league on where things stand for 19 stars who could get paid this summer.
Could Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow reset the quarterback market after Jalen Hurts signed a $255 million extension in April and Lamar Jackson re-upped with Baltimore for $260 million over five years? Will running backs Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs play out the 2023 season on the franchise tag or land multiyear deals to stay with their current teams? Is Nick Bosa set to become the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL? And how might potential extensions for CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Chris Jones and Brian Burns stack up?
Our NFL Nation reporters have the latest on the extension landscape, with intel on 19 ongoing negotiations. Let's begin with two tagged players trying to get a deal done before their July 17 deadline before moving on to players set to become free agents in 2024 and 2025.
Jump to:
Tagged players | 2024 FAs | 2025 FAs
PLAYERS ON THE FRANCHISE TAG
Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
Latest on negotiations: Barkley wants a long-term deal from the Giants. He has made that clear. The Giants, however, are completely fine with him playing on the franchise tag in 2023. The belief is the two sides will try to get something done before the July 17 deadline to negotiate contracts with franchise-tagged players.
"I think they're open to talking," Barkley said recently at his AMPT youth football camp. "I'm open to talking. I think at the end of the day, if you really break it down and look at it as a whole, there is no rush."
The Giants know what Barkley means to their offense. He played a league-high 79.2% of his team's snaps at running back last season and led New York in rushing yards (1,312) and touchdowns (10) while also tying for the team lead with 57 receptions. The Giants' offseason plans have always included Barkley -- that has not changed. It's just a matter of how much general manager Joe Schoen wants to prioritize keeping the team captain happy.
For Barkley, it's about the guaranteed money. The floor is this year's franchise tag ($10.1 million) plus the possibility of another next year ($12.1 million). That's $22.2 million guaranteed. -- Jordan Raanan
Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Latest on negotiations: Because Jacobs, the Raiders' first NFL rushing champ since Marcus Allen in 1985, has yet to sign his franchise tag, he was not contractually obligated to attend mandatory minicamp. He also wasn't at voluntary OTAs. And yet -- perhaps as an olive branch -- Las Vegas changed his uniform number, from No. 28 to the No. 8 he wore in college at Alabama. Jacobs, who rushed for 1,653 yards and had a league-leading 2,053 yards from scrimmage, would be in line to earn $10.1 million under the tag this year.
He has been cryptic on Twitter of late, posting, "Sometimes it's not about you. We gotta do it for the ones after us," with a shoulder shrug emoji. The Raiders, who have more than $4.4 million in salary cap space, have been cautiously optimistic, even as Jacobs was the lone Las Vegas player not in attendance for minicamp.
"I respect the process," Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said. "I stand by what I said before -- love the kid, love the player, love the person and look forward to when I see him." -- Paul Gutierrez
2024 FREE AGENTS
Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers
Latest on negotiations: The operative word for the Niners and Bosa is patience. San Francisco wants to keep him on a deal that will likely make him the highest-paid defender in the league -- besting Aaron Donald's $31.6 million three-year average -- and Bosa wants to stay in the Bay Area for the long haul.
He showed up to mandatory minicamp in June and expressed confidence he would get a deal done just before (or right after) training camp starts in late July. Such mega-contracts can take some time to come together, which is why Bosa probably will follow in the footsteps of teammates George Kittle, Fred Warner and Deebo Samuel, all of whom got their deals on a similar timeline to what Bosa is expecting. -- Nick Wagoner
Brian Burns, DE, Carolina Panthers
Latest on negotiations: Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said in April that Burns "is going to be here'' long-term. And Fitterer has to make it happen after he turned down an offer of two first-round picks in a trade for the edge rusher this past fall.
Getting a deal done, however, might take some time. The two sides are talking, but Burns wants to be among the league's highest paid at his position. The four highest-paid edge rushers average $23.75 million per year, led by T.J. Watt at more than $28 million.
Burns has made the case with 38 sacks over his first four seasons, and his production should only go up in Ejiro Evero's new 3-4 defensive scheme. Getting something done by training camp, or at least the start of the season, seems likely. -- David Newton
Trevon Diggs, CB, Dallas Cowboys
Latest on negotiations: This would seem more likely to get done during training camp, similar to Dallas' talks with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. And also like Lamb, Diggs said he wants to remain with the Cowboys and is looking for a deal at the top of the market. But unlike Lamb, Diggs becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season, so there might be some more urgency, though the franchise tag always looms.
Green Bay's Jaire Alexander is the highest-paid corner at $21 million per year, and he has 10 interceptions in five seasons. Diggs has 17 in his first three seasons, the fourth most in a player's first three seasons since 2000. He can make a case to be the highest paid at his position, but this is a tricky negotiation when factoring in the potential deals for Lamb and Dak Prescott this offseason and Micah Parsons in 2024. -- Todd Archer
Rashan Gary, OLB, Green Bay Packers
Latest on negotiations: Gary was looking at a massive payday before he tore the ACL in his right knee Nov. 9 at Detroit. That's now on hold until the Packers are sure Gary can come back as the same player who ranked among the top 10 linebackers in sacks, quarterback hits and pressures through the first nine games last season.
The Packers wouldn't mind lowering his $10.892 million cap number based on his fifth-year option, and a contract extension would do that. Don't be surprised if that gets done as soon as the Packers know he has recovered from his knee injury, possibly by the start of the regular season. -- Rob Demovsky
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Latest on negotiations: Any notion that Higgins could be moved in the final year of his team-friendly contract was nixed earlier in the offseason. At the combine in February, Cincinnati's de facto general manager Duke Tobin told other teams to go find their own wide receiver with Higgins not on the market. But there's still the matter of his contract. Higgins has stayed out of the negotiations between the front office and his agent, David Mulugheta.
"I'm just here doing my thing," Higgins said at the beginning of offseason workouts in May. "I let them do what they need to do."
The timing of the deal could hinge on contracts for other wide receivers in the 2020 draft class, including as Minnesota's Justin Jefferson. That will give Mulugheta and the Bengals working parameters as the market for elite pass-catchers remains hot. -- Ben Baby
Alex Highsmith, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Latest on negotiations: With megadeals negotiated in the past two offseasons for T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Steelers' extension to-do list is a little less daunting this summer. The team has engaged with Highsmith's representation, but Highsmith has been coy on the exact progress between the two sides. A year ago, the Steelers inked Fitzpatrick to his four-year, $73.6 million deal just after mandatory minicamp, a departure from their usual pattern of completing contracts up against their self-imposed Week 1 deadline. With general manager Omar Khan again in charge of negotiations as a second-year general manager, Highsmith could also see a deal sooner rather than later.
Highsmith displayed his value in 2022 with a career-best 14.5 sacks, and the Steelers are optimistic about reviving a solid three-man outside linebacker rotation with the addition of Markus Golden. Still, Pittsburgh doesn't seem likely to shell out a huge contract for Highsmith. A four-year deal in the neighborhood of $14 million per year would give him the fourth-largest cap hit on this year's Steelers roster. -- Brooke Pryor
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings
Latest on negotiations: The free agent signing of tight end Josh Oliver, who was fully guaranteed $8.2 million, raised eyebrows about the Vikings' long-term commitment to Hockenson. Since then, however, it has become clear that coach Kevin O'Connell wants two viable tight ends to maximize his scheme. O'Connell said that pairing Oliver and Hockenson "actually gets you really excited about how versatile we can be ... [and how] we can reinvent ourselves in staying true to our football philosophy."
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said acquiring Hockenson from the Lions at the 2022 trade deadline "was a today move" as well as one that gives them "the ability to keep him around for a long time."
While the Vikings' financial attention has been occupied elsewhere this offseason, most notably in a complicated contract negotiation with All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson, it's clear they plan to address Hockenson's deal as well. Progress is more likely to take place later this summer. -- Kevin Seifert
Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago Bears
Latest on negotiations: Johnson said his absence from the first two weeks of OTAs in May stemmed from wanting to spend time with his 3-year-old daughter and fundraise for his nonprofit foundation, not because the 24-year-old does not have a new contract. Bears general manager Ryan Poles has yet to re-sign any player drafted by Chicago before his arrival in 2022, but he did say in April that Johnson, a second-round pick in 2020, is a player he hopes he'll get "to keep here for a while."
When he returned for the final week of OTAs, Johnson also expressed his desire to stay with the Bears long-term and said he is planning to find a new agent. Johnson's one interception over three seasons may affect how much the Bears, with an estimated $32.5 million in cap space, are willing to spend. -- Courtney Cronin
Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
Latest on negotiations: The Chiefs consider Jones to be indispensable. In recent years, they have declined to meet the asking price of several of their own free agents (Orlando Brown Jr., Tyreek Hill and Tyrann Mathieu) and signed others to deals widely considered to be team-friendly (Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce). Not so on their 2020 extension with Jones, with Kansas City giving him an average of $20 million over four seasons.
Jones is looking for a deal that puts him second among the league's defensive tackles, behind Aaron Donald in terms of average annual value. Can he top the $23.5 million per year that Jeffery Simmons is making? He has a compelling case to get that much or more. Jones, who didn't attend the Chiefs' three-day mandatory minicamp this week, was a key player on each of their two Super Bowl championship teams. Last season, he had 15.5 sacks, fourth in the league and highest among interior defenders by 3.5.
"I think that's on the list of things to do,'' general manager Brett Veach said of a potential extension for Jones. "We'll get to work and see what we can do. Those things usually take a little bit of time here, so we have a little bit of a runway now until the start of training camp to hopefully get something done." -- Adam Teicher
Montez Sweat, OLB, Washington Commanders
Latest on negotiations: Washington would like to extend Sweat, but those talks were long ago put on hold because of the ownership situation. Until Josh Harris' group are approved as the new owners, Washington and Sweat will have to wait.
"We can't go on until we get a chance to explain to them exactly what our thoughts and ideas are and whether they agree or disagree," Washington coach Ron Rivera said. Washington has more than $84 million in 2024 cap space, but its top four defensive ends are all on expiring contracts. To get a deal that averages more than $20 million, Sweat will have to produce more than his career-best nine sacks this season.
Plus, Chase Young also will be a free agent. After declining his fifth-year option, the team has been honest with him. "Guys that produce for us, we want them to be around," Rivera said. "That's been the message." -- John Keim
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Latest on negotiations: Extensions for productive running backs can be tricky, as the Saquon Barkley talks have demonstrated. The same applies here, but the situation is further complicated by the reality that Taylor is coming off a tough, injury-marred season in 2022. He recently changed agents and said this week he and the team have had some recent contract talks. Still, the Colts have time. Taylor, who has rushed for 3,841 yards in his three seasons, has one year remaining on his rookie contract and is scheduled to hit free agency in spring 2024.
But is Taylor willing to be patient? He offered some stirring comments about the financial state of running backs around the league as the Colts' minicamp ended, saying, "You see why guys request trades. They just want to feel valued by not only their coaches, their teammates, but the organization as well." -- Stephen Holder
Christian Wilkins, DT, Miami Dolphins
Latest on negotiations: A contract extension between the Dolphins and Wilkins is a matter of when, not if; both sides want to get a deal done, and it would appear Wilkins has the upper hand following an offseason full of extensions for defensive tackles across the league.
Whenever a deal is reached, Wilkins will become the first first-round pick under Dolphins GM Chris Grier to receive an extension. The only other first-rounder to have his fifth-year option picked up, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, will be eligible for an extension of his own next offseason. But the Dolphins are focused on Wilkins for now. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Quinnen Williams, DT, New York Jets
Latest on negotiations: It would be a surprise if Williams doesn't have a new deal by the start of the season, and it could happen by the start of training camp. The defensive tackle market is clearly defined, and Williams wants to be the highest-paid tackle not named Aaron Donald. Look for him to accomplish that, landing just north of Jeffery Simmons' $23.5 million per year. Progress has been slow, but there don't appear to be any major hurdles.
My prediction is a four-year, $98 million extension, keeping him with the Jets through 2027. The 25-year-old first-team All-Pro had a career-high 12 sacks in 2022 and is vital to the Jets' attacking 4-3 front. Teammate Solomon Thomas called him "one of the best, most dominant players in the league last year."
Coach Robert Saleh suggested the two sides will get a deal done by the start of training camp. That certainly would alleviate a potential distraction. -- Rich Cimini
2025 FREE AGENTS
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Latest on negotiations: The two sides involved in these negotiations have committed to divulging very little, but talks between Burrow's agent, Brian Ayrault, and Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn have been ongoing. In a recent interview with "The Pat McAfee Show," Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin indicated Burrow will be paid handsomely for transforming the franchise and his current status as a top-tier quarterback.
On his side of things, Burrow has not indicated exactly what he wants in his new deal publicly, but it seems he has told the organization. "I'm pretty clear on what I want in the contract and what I think is best for myself and the team," he said in mid-May. "We're on the road to making that happen." -- Ben Baby
Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
Latest on negotiations: No player is valued inside the Chargers franchise like Herbert, and the organization is prepared to compensate him accordingly. The Bolts, after entering negotiations following the season, would like to reach an agreement this offseason. However, it's unclear how much progress has been made toward a deal.
"We all know how we feel about him," coach Brandon Staley said. "I'm confident that Justin Herbert is going to be our quarterback for a long time and that we'll make sure that we get a great deal done."
Herbert has not shared a desired timeline for an agreement, but he has expressed faith in the organization during the process. "They've done such a great job of taking care of us as players," Herbert said. "I've loved being a part of this team, being a part of this organization."
Following new deals for quarterback Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson, the Chargers are expected to award Herbert with the next-best deal. Herbert did recently acknowledge, however, that if an agreement is not struck this offseason, playing a fourth year without a new deal would be something he must "address" and "think about." -- Lindsey Thiry
Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Latest on negotiations: The parameters of a completely harmonious negotiation are in place, even though an agreement has been elusive thus far. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in February, "I don't want to be the Vikings' GM without that guy on our team," while Jefferson has said, "It's not really something that I'm really worried about or I have my mind set on." Jefferson also added: "The money stuff, that comes with the job."
There isn't much disagreement on the scale of a pending deal. Jefferson, who earned All-Pro and NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022 at the age of 23, is likely to be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league when he signs. The only potential room for debate is the number of years. The Vikings naturally would like to lock him up for as long as possible, but a three-year deal, for example, would give Jefferson a chance to do another deal before he turns 27 years old. -- Kevin Seifert
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Latest on negotiations: Training camp seems to be the ideal place to work out a long-term extension. It's what the Cowboys have done in the past. While they have put the 2024 fifth-year option on Lamb at a cost of $17.99 million, they want to secure their No. 1 receiver long-term as quickly as they can, with Trevon Diggs, Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons approaching the chance for new deals.
Cap space and cash will not be the issue, but the length of the deal could. Players want shorter deals to hit the market again, while teams want longer deals to help their cap. The Cowboys went through it with Prescott. There are 14 receivers making more than $20 million per season, and Lamb -- who became the second receiver in team history to record a 100-catch, 1,300-yard season, joining Michael Irvin -- figures to land between that mark and the $30 million Tyreek Hill earns as the highest-paid receiver.
"I'm going to be 100 percent honest, I'm not even distracted," Lamb said. "Like the money, definitely worried about it but is not nothing that's really on my mind every day that I wake up when I come to the building. I don't really think about how much money I'm going to make if I do this, you know what I'm saying? It's really all about coming in, showing my worth and then let everything else handle itself." -- Todd Archer