Latest news with #rookiedeal
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bills Fighting So Minicamp Isn't Defined By Ugly James Cook Conflict
Bills Fighting So Minicamp Isn't Defined By Ugly James Cook Conflict originally appeared on Athlon Sports. So far this offseason, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook hasn't been present for OTAs as he searches for a new, long-term contract. Advertisement Set to play on the final year of his rookie deal, Cook reportedly wants a new contract at roughly $15 million APY, and it appears the Bills front office isn't too keen to part ways with that sort of money. Especially since they have already re-signed a host of key players, leaving just $1.6 million in cap space. Still, there are some who think the Bills will try to negotiate a deal with Cook, and despite the running back's absence, we are approaching a key marker in this saga. Bills minicamp. And for ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg, one thing to watch is whether Cook shows up or not. "The running back has not attended organized team activities (OTAs) as he seeks a contract extension, but the team has insisted that Cook will be playing for the Bills this season," Getzenberg writes. "Three other members of the Bills' 2022 draft class received extensions. Cook, 25, is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and though there have been discussions with his representation, the two sides didn't agree. Advertisement "Whether Cook comes to mandatory minicamp will be the next big step in how his situation progresses." Buffalo Bills running back James Cook.© Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images The fight here, for the organization, is to avoid letting this conflict define everything. Can they do so? We will get a good indication of where Cook stands in a couple of days, because if he isn't attending mandatory minicamp, then the franchise can fine him. Additionally, he can show up and do nothing, citing a bruised pinky finger as the reason, and avoid the fine. So there are multiple ways this could go, but for one of Buffalo's most prized offensive weapons, it isn't ideal for the franchise's Super Bowl hopes if a key piece is missing. Advertisement Could Buffalo win it without him? Possibly, but it would make the task harder, and what is also challenging is finding the necessary cap space for the Bills to get a deal done. Either way, this is getting ugly, and if James doesn't attend minicamp, it might get even uglier. Related: Could Bills Pull Off Trey Hendrickson Trade? Related: Bills' Joe Brady Details The Why In 'Everybody Eats' Mantra This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Shedeur Sanders 'agrees to four-year, $4.6m rookie contract with Browns'... $42m less than he was projected to receive
Shedeur Sanders has reportedly agreed to his rookie deal with the Browns - at millions less than he was projected to receive ahead of the NFL Draft. Once viewed as a surefire first-round pick, Sanders fell all the way to the fifth round before Cleveland finally selected him with the no. 144 overall pick. And on Monday, the quarterback officially inked his rookie contract with the franchise, signing for four years and $4.6million according to Jordan Schultz.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bengals' offer to Shemar Stewart was lacking as to training camp roster bonuses
Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart took a stand. Without his rookie contract in place, the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft was unwilling to participate in the team's rookie minicamp. Despite the criticism he has received from some, it was absolutely the right move. Given the ease with which rookie deals are now negotiated, no player should set foot on a practice field without the security that comes from the finalization of his rookie deal. Advertisement There's no reason for the team to force any player to assume even the slightest amount of risk. For first-round picks, all four years are fully guaranteed. Once the player signs, the injury risk shifts to the team. Where it should be, if the player is going to be practicing with the team. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Bengals tried to get Stewart signed. As we understand it, the talks bogged down regarding the percentage of compensation in future years to be paid as a training-camp roster bonus. The training-camp roster bonus has become a device for putting a sizable chunk of the player's pay in his pockets in future years, early in the season. In this case, the numbers offered by the Bengals reflected a lower percentage than the 17th overall pick received in 2024. It's a simple fix. Match or beat the percentage from 2024, and the deal gets done. And Stewart shows up. Advertisement With more and more players signing their rookie deals before participating in the rookie minicamp, every player should be willing to take a stand. The message is simple, clear, and as fair as it can be: If you want me to act like an employee, make me one.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ashton Jeanty signs rookie contract
The Raiders have their new running back under contract. Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, former Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has signed his rookie deal. He's the highest 2025 draft pick to agree to terms. As the sixth overall selection, he will receive a slotted four-year contract, worth $35.895 million. Like all first-round deals, the four years are fully guaranteed. Advertisement Jeanty was the first running back taken, and he instantly becomes the eleventh highest-paid running back in the NFL. The contract, again, was driven solely by where he was picked. Any player — at any position — would have gotten that same deal. So we now know three things about Jeanty. One, what he'll be making. Two, where he fits in the running back hierarchy. Three, Tom Brady wasn't part of any evaluation process.
