Most businesses are results driven in some way. The more you produce, the more money you feel comfortable asking for when asking your boss for that raise.
Pro sports are no different. In fact, if any, they are THE results driven businesses. Yearly, top players in leagues worldwide head to the negotiation table looking for that next payday, sighting the production they’ve put up as well as the ever-growing market for the positions they play.
At the end of the day, organizations should see no problem forking over the dough to their best players, right?
Well, while some NFL teams (a la the Philly Eagles) tend to get ahead of things & “PAY THE MAN”, extending their best earlier than needed or right on time, others deploy a different tactic, hoping to find any & everything possible to shave some of that compensation off the top.
Here are the top players currently in line for a new deal:
Micah Parsons, EDGE
Say hello to the centerpiece of the Dallas Cowboys defense.
Hailing from Penn State via the 2021 NFL Draft, Micah Parsons walked into the league & immediately stamped his name on the list of players who are perennial Pro-Bowlers & All-Pros. Four seasons for the former Nittany Lion has resulted in four trips to the all-star game, two first team All-Pros, a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, & multiple years hovering around the DPOY conversation.
What’s not to like (or pay), right?
Enter Jerry Jones.
The owner of the world’s most valuable sports franchise has made it commonplace in Big D for top stars to have to wait for extensions. Dak Prescott may know better than anybody, having went through tag battles & two years of negotiations before getting his first extension, which included “No Tag” & “No Trade” clauses so he wouldn’t have to put up with this on his next go around.
Jones sat back as multiple top signal callers inked deals one after another, further driving up the market, before resigning Dak again to the richest contract in NFL history with a per-year mark of $60 million.
Star Wideout CeeDee Lamb is among the top pass catchers on Planet Earth & had to sit out part of camp before receiving a much-deserved extension that, at the time, made him the second highest paid at the position behind Vikings stud Justin Jefferson.
As ridiculous as that sounds, it gets worse.
Jerry has sought out the media, openly questioning Parsons’ leadership & durability while also calling the pass rusher “Michael Parson” on multiple occasions. For reference, his full name is Micah Aaron Parsons.
Between the disrespect that has been displayed & a contract number that figures to be in the $43-$46 million range per year, one has to wonder if the two sides even desire the partnership any longer?
Terry McLaurin, WR
Contract disputes with top stars are starting to become an NFC East staple it seems.
Head up north to the nation’s capital & you’ll find much to like.
A football team coming off an NFC Championship game appearance, a young phenom at Quarterback somewhere smiling heading into JUST his second year & optimism in abundance about what the future holds.
You’ll also find a disgruntled #1 wide receiver with the last name McLaurin.
The man nicknamed “Scary Terry” due to the fear he strikes in opposing coordinators & corners everywhere, has officially requested a trade.
Since being drafted in the third round back in 2019, McLaurin has caught passes from QBs like Carson Wentz, Alex Smith, Colt McCoy, Garrett Gilbert, Kyle Allen & the list goes on.
The carousel under center hasn’t stopped the wideout from posting 1,000+ every season since his rookie year, routinely making lemonade out of lemons while making the case that, if he could ever just get “that guy” back there, there were other levels he could reach.
Cue Jayden Daniels.
The LSU alum & former Heisman Trophy winner was made the 2nd overall pick in the 2024 draft by the Washington Commanders. He would author a rookie season for the ages, leading his team to the NFC Title Game while collecting accolades such as Rookie of the Year, a trip to the Pro Bowl & even had some wondering if he should garner votes for MVP.
How was such a season possible with a newbie at the helm?
A great coach in Dan Quinn? Yes. Jayden Daniels displaying the “It” factor? Yes. Teammates from the top of the roster to the bottom stepping up & rallying around each other? Yes, yes & yes. None of this, however, would have been possible without the always steady, always consistent Terry McLaurin playing his part as both the team’s #1 threat on offense & as one of the premier pass catchers in the game.
Together with Daniels, McLaurin posted 82 catches (second most in career), 1,096 yards (5th season over 1,000), & ranked second in the NFL with 13 touchdown catches (career high)
Going into his age-30 season with only six NFL seasons under his belt after being drafted at the age of 24, Scary Terry doesn’t quite have the mileage some 30-year-old receivers do & looks to just be scratching the surface of what he’s capable of now that he’s found his Quarterback.
Pay the man. Geez.
Trey Hendrickson, EDGE
2024 was quite the season for the Cincinatti Bengals.
Ja’Marr Chase became the seventh player in the Super Bowl Era to take home the triple crown, awarded to pass catchers who finish first in receptions, receiving yards & receiving touchdowns all in the same season. Chase finished with 127 catches for 1,708 yards (13.4 ypc) & 17 touchdowns.
Joe Burrow helmed the league’s top passing game (272.9ypg), with the high-flying offense finishing sixth in scoring (27.8ppg). Joe Cool himself would have an MVP-caliber campaign, ending with 4.918 yards (1st), 43 passing touchdowns (1st) & a completion percentage of 70.6 (4th).
Surely the team found themselves in the thick of the AFC race right?
Not exactly.
Despite the offense hosting a fireworks show week in & week out, the defense struggled mightily.
The other side of the ball surrendered 25.5 points per game, 25th in the league ironically. They gave up 30 or more points in six games & the team lost four games despite scoring 30+ points, setting an NFL record. Seven of their eight losses were by one possession, also sighting an inability to finish games.
In the midst of all the chaos on the defensive side, there remained one bright spot.
His name is Trey Hendrickson.
Teddy Hendricks led not just Cincinatti, but the entire LEAGUE in sacks last year, posting 17.5 quarterback takedowns for the second consecutive season. If there was an impact play being made on defense, you’d do best to put your money on it being #91.
Such production posted will result in a strong contract being sought out by the producer.
Hendrickson enters the upcoming season on the last year of his contract, set to make $18.6 million. He’s been a Pro-Bowl staple since arriving in Cincy with his latest campaign warranting his first 1st Team All Pro nod & a second place finish in the DPOY race.
Over the last three seasons, the Cincy Sack Master has 43 sacks, second in the league over players like Micah Parsons, Danielle Hunter, Nick Bosa, & yes, the highest paid non-QB in NFL history, T.J. Watt.
Simply put, Trey Hendrickson has produced. Now it’s time to pay him like it.
