T.J. Watt, Terry McLaurin, and 3 other 2025 NFL minicamp holdouts

USA Today

2 days ago

T.J. Watt, Terry McLaurin, and 3 other 2025 NFL minicamp holdouts
There's little useful information to glean from the first round of mandatory NFL minicamps. These practices are more of a mixer than a reveal of any real regular season insight. Rookies and free agent additions get the opportunity to kick the tires on their new team. Players on the cusp of the roster limit have the chance to jostle for position amidst a series of dynamic depth charts.
These minicamps won't shed too much light on how a team's 2025 will go, but it can diagnose some problems early on. Notably, it gives the world at large an understanding of which important veterans are upset enough with their contract situations to incur some (relatively) modest fines by holding out. Missing one day of mandatory minicamp will cost a player $17.462. Missing all three days of camp will rack up more than $100,000 in fines.
Some of these negotiating tactics will prevail and aging stars will get the last mega-deal they deserve. Others will merely dock their paychecks and create hard feelings between player and franchise. Let's look at who's skipping mandatory minicamp in 2025.
EDGE T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
Watt is in the final season of a $112 million contract that has no guaranteed money remaining. While he's in no danger of being cut, he's also reaching his last opportunity to lock down a massive deal as his 31st birthday approaches. That could be enough to give the Steelers pause; while Watt is the center of a defense tasked with the herculean effort of covering for an anemic offense, he could be nearing an age-related decline.
EDGE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals
Hendrickson accounted for 17.5 of the Bengals' 36 sacks last season. He's also, like Watt, in the final year of his contract and approaching his 31st birthday. Cincinnati has invested heavily in its offense, leaving the defensive end to shoulder a massive burden for a depleted defense. While the Bengals have an estimated $55 million in salary cap space for 2026, they may be concerned about their star player's ability to continue to wreck havoc up front on the wrong side of 30. That could also scare off suitors in trade talks -- though Hendrickson's monster 2024 could help his team recoup low-cost draft assets in any deal.
WR Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
McLaurin was vital to Jayden Daniels' rookie of the year campaign. He was the Heisman Trophy winner's huckleberry in the red zone (an NFL-best 10 touchdowns from inside the 20) and pushed his young QB to a 133.0 passer rating when targeted. But despite using Daniels' inexpensive rookie contract to add veteran talent, the All-Pro wideout hasn't been a priority entering the final year of a three-year, $69.6 million extension that made him a bargain in the nation's capital.
EDGE Shemar Stewart, Cincinnati Bengals
Stewart is an unusual case. Rookies don't tend to hold-in to offseason workouts. But the first round pick isn't happy with the language of his rookie contract and refuses to sign until that's settled. He won't practice until he's got a signed deal. Thus, the Bengals could be without their prospective top two pass rushers this summer.
Miami Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey
Ramsey won't attend minicamp as the Dolphins continue to search for a trade partner willing to pony up for a 30-year-old, seven-time Pro Bowler.
Players who aren't holding out/in