What are the penalties for skipping NFL minicamp in 2025 that players have to pay?
NFL (via Getty Images)
As contract talks intensify and tensions boil over throughout the league, some of the NFL's brightest stars are opting to stay away from mandatory minicamp in order to send a message.
But that message comes with a very high price. Under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, players who miss mandated workouts are hit with hefty fines—more than $100,000 for a full three-day no-show.
NFL's minicamp fine structure: What players lose for sitting out
Mandatory minicamp is just that—mandatory. And if players miss without an excused absence, the league's fine system kicks into high gear right away. For the 2025 offseason, the fines are allocated as follows:
Day 1: $17,462
Day 2: $34,925
Day 3: $52,381
Total Fine: $104,768
That's the tab for missing three days—enough to hurt even players on multi-million-dollar deals.
For younger players or those on rookie deals, the blow is all the bigger.
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Why players take the risk of fines anyway
For others, it is worth the leverage for the money. Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is among the most high-profile holdouts this week, sitting out while he negotiates a contract extension. NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero say his absence is linked directly to stalled talks.
In Pittsburgh, T.J. Watt is also missing from minicamp, supposedly for the same reasons: no new long-term contract.
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These are calculated maneuvers—intended to put fronts on the spot as the clock runs down to training camp.
Mandatory Minicamp BURNING QUESTIONS - Holdouts, Unhappy Campers, Who's Getting Reps + More | PTP
League-wide, additional players are also skipping minicamps with contract uncertainty or speculation of being traded:
Terry McLaurin (Commanders): Supposedly frustrated by slow negotiations on a new contract.
Jalen Ramsey (Dolphins): Trade speculation is surrounding him, and Pittsburgh has been mentioned as a suitor.
Jonnu Smith (Dolphins): Also inactive due to team uncertainty.
Though the monetary fines receive the headlines, avoiding minicamp has more profound ramifications. Players risk getting behind on team playbooks, losing precious reps, or causing tension in locker rooms.
Conditioning, chemistry, and leadership all suffer when significant players are absent in June.
As minicamps conclude, teams will next transition into training camps later in July. For the time being, players that are sitting out are hoping to resolve their contract issues—and avert larger issues—prior to the start of the regular season in September.
Also read:
Travis Hunter shrugs off Madden 26 rating talk, locks in at Jaguars minicamp
Missing required minicamp isn't so much about avoiding practice—its a money and image risk. With more than $100K in fines hanging in the balance, players like Hendrickson and Watt are making a very clear statement: the cost of negotiating power may just be worth it.
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