Will Any Major NFL Holdout Carry Into Regular Season?

The start of the 2024 NFL campaign is approximately two weeks away. That should place a sense of urgency on teams currently dealing with superstar holdouts. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, Dallas Cowboys receiver Ceedee Lamb, San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk are among the well-known holdouts. It's tough to envision any of these standoffs carrying over to the regular season, which means solutions should soon be reached.

The receivers have the most straightforward demands. Lamb, who has one year remaining on his rookie contract, is holding out of training camp in search of a long-term extension. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones offered an update earlier this week, saying, "We're in good shape." Lamb should sign a multi-year extension that approaches or slightly surpasses $35 million annually, which is what the Minnesota Vikings gave Justin Jefferson earlier this offseason.

Chase is also at a financial impasse with the Bengals. The former LSU standout is present at training camp but is not physically participating. Chase is simply avoiding monetary fines by conducting a "hold in." His base salary for the upcoming campaign is a measly $1.1 million with a $21.8 million fifth-year option for 2025. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter recently said that "there hasn't been a whole lot of conversation between the two sides." That qualifies as concerning. What's interesting about Chase's holdout is that he's essentially in the same position Jefferson was in with the Vikings last offseason. Jefferson waited until the following offseason to sign his extension, but current indications are Chase may not be as patient and understanding. 

Chase's holdout could continue into the regular season if the Bengals don't sign him to a historically lucrative extension. Cincinnati's decision-makers shouldn't let it reach that point.

The Aiyuk saga has garnered the most coverage this offseason. False reports surfaced weeks ago that Aiyuk was being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, yet he remains in San Francisco. Recent updates indicate that 49ers general manager John Lynch continues to engage in long-term contract discussions with the hope of convincing the player to stay put. 

Of all the superstar players currently involved in contract-related standoffs, Aiyuk's is the most difficult to see reaching the regular season. No, a solution will arrive before San Francisco's opener with the New York Jets. Aiyuk will either be traded before then or the 49ers will offer him an extension that meets his demands.

The 49ers' other headache is an ongoing dispute with Williams, the game's premier offensive tackle. Williams is under contract through the 2026 campaign but views his deal as being outdated. With the market exploding to include contracts valued at more than $28 million per season, he's no longer a top-five paid tackle in the league on a yearly basis.

Williams doesn't expect the 49ers to tack on additional years to his deal. The 2010 first-round selection is simply seeking an adjustment. Williams possesses three more years on his existing contract, none of which are guaranteed. Adding guaranteed money with a slight pay raise (perhaps achievable via incentives, or one that borrows money from future years) should be a solution that convinces him to report to the 49ers.

Every current holdout has an attainable solution. Each player involved in disputes is simply seeking market value dictated by other contracts at their position. It's up to the respective general managers to willingly meet their demands.