OTAs every year answer questions about players across the league, both good and bad. Every team find diamonds in the rough that you necessarily wouldn’t expect to. At the very same time teams find out which players are unhappy with their current contract situations. That is the case this off-season with some top pass catchers all across the NFC. Here are the the top three who are clearly seeking a new contract, or are just not showing up all together.
Dallas Tight End Dalton Schultz
Schultz had been a participant in the Cowboys’ offseason workouts until this past week. Schultz has been frustrated by the slow pace of negotiations for a new contract. He reportedly won’t be attending the rest of OTAs. Whether he is willing to subject himself to the 95,877 fine for missing next week’s minicamp remains to be seen. Schultz quickly signed his $10.931 million tender after the Cowboys made him a franchise player in March.
The franchise tender creates more of a sense of urgency with his contract negotiations. The deadline for franchise players to sign long-term deals is July 15 at 4 p.m. ET.
The Cowboys can’t be happy about the latest data point in the tight end market. The Browns recently gave David Njoku, who was also franchised, a four-year, $54.75 million contract worth up to $56.75 million with incentives. The deal contains $28 million in guarantees, of which $17 million was fully guaranteed at signing.
Seattle Wide Receiver DK Metcalf
Metcalf skipped the first day of minicamp after attending portions of the optional offseason workouts although he was rehabbing from foot surgery. His minicamp absence is unexcused.
Metcalf certainly should be wary about playing out his contract given Seattle’s quarterback situation. Either Drew Lock or Geno Smith will be replacing Russell Wilson, who was traded to the Broncos in March. The drop off at quarterback should be appreciable.
AJ Brown’s deal could be of particular importance to Metcalf. Consequently, they were teammates in college at Ole Miss, selected 13 picks apart in 2019’s second round. Metcalf is the more accomplished of the two. He set a Seahawks franchise record in 2020 with 1,303 receiving yards.
San Francisco Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel
Deebo Samuel showed up for this week’s minicamp after missing all of San Francisco’s other offseason activities. He has not participated in practices.
Samuel requested a trade earlier in the offseason. His reasons for wanting out of San Francisco have never been revealed. There is speculation that Samuel doesn’t want to continue in the dual role as a wide receiver and running back he took on last season.
Above all money certainly cures most issues with teams. If that holds true for Samuel, the 49ers should be prepared to top the deal fellow 2019 second-round pick A.J. Brown signed when traded to the Eagles during the first round of the draft. The Eagles gave Brown a four-year, $100 million extension containing $57,220,471 of guarantees.
In Conclusion, Are Any Three of These Players Realistically Available For Trade?
- Deebo Samuel – Extremely Unlikely
- DK Metcalf – Unlikely, but not ruled out especially at this point
- Dalton Schultz – Unkown at this point. Dallas may not want to invest into the tight end position
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