NFL Rumors: Mike Evans still hanging in contract limbo with Bucs
In the latest development in the Mike Evans contract negotiations, the star wide receiver and the Buccaneers have yet to come to an agreement on a new deal.
NFL insider Josina Anderson reported that Evans' negotiating team submitted a contract structure to the Bucs that was deemed acceptable by Evans and also accounted for Tampa Bay's considerations, presumably related to the team's future cap space.
However, shortly after Anderson's report, fellow NFL insider Jordan Schultz said that the Bucs and Evans have had zero communication over the last few days. Evans will make "one last effort" toward the end of the week and has set a hard deadline for contract talks for this Saturday.
It should be noted that the two sides don't seem any closer to a deal than before. All Anderson reported was that Evans sent his team a desirable framework of a deal. Now, the ball is in the Bucs' court to work with Evans within that framework assuming both sides still want to get an extension done.
Compared to other players knee-deep in contract negotiations, Evans has chosen not to hold out, a tactic commonly used by players to increase the pressure on their front office. He will earn $13 million in base salary in 2023, his tenth season in Tampa Bay.
The 2014 first-round pick by the Bucs released a statement last week saying he wanted to be in camp and practice to help the team win this year: "I don't want to be a hold out and hurt our team."
Evans' choice to participate in team activities could soften the Bucs' stance or backfire badly. Saturday, September 9, is the date to watch and see if Evans and the Bucs can hammer out a last-minute deal.
NFL Rumors: Nick Bosa and 49ers may be fighting over a few million dollars
One of the biggest factors in Nick Bosa's ongoing holdout is... his family?
NFL's Ian Rapoport said that if there's one family that would hold out into the season, it's the Bosas.
Rapoport revealed on NFL+: "The Bosas take their value extremely seriously from the father to Joey Bosa to Nick Bosa. If there's one family that could ever hold out into the season, this would be it. I don't know if that's going to happen, but I'm just saying this is one family that believes what they believe and will take that stance."
Bosa will earn $17.8 million in his final and fifth year of his rookie contract. The defensive star has already accumulated millions in fines for holding out of camp and has yet to practice with the 49ers this summer.
Rapoport continued to elaborate on Bosa's situation, delving into the financial specifics. The 49ers are reportedly already ready to pay Bosa more than T.J. Watt at over $30 million a year -- Bosa is going to be the highest-paid pass-rusher in the NFL, there's little question about that.
The real question lies in the nitty gritty: will Bosa beat Aaron Donald's average salary of $31.7 million?
This is about how close to Aaron Donald's $31 million and change does [Bosa] get, or does he get over that?" Ian RapoportSan Francisco may also have to account for a few million dollars more since Donald received a $5 million roster bonus from the Rams when he decided not to retire.
Out of all the contract wars heading into the 2023 season, Bosa's could get the ugliest. Blame the family name.
NFL Rumors: Chris Jones and Chiefs contract talks coming down to the wire
Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is inching closer and closer to missing Week 1 of the regular season.
Like Nick Bosa, Jones has held out of camp this entire summer hoping to use his absence as leverage to get an extension done.
With just two days until the Chiefs' season opener against the Detroit Lions, no progress has been made on a long-term deal, per reports.
NFL's Ian Rapoport said on Tuesday that Jones' deal has been especially difficult to negotiate given the plethora of factors to be considered.
Whereas a player like Lamar Jackson might get a carbon copy of Jalen Hurts' deal with a few changes here and there, Chris Jones doesn't have a perfect precedent.
Rapoport noted that Jones' contract would likely fall somewhere in between Aaron Donald's $31 million a year and Quinnen Williams' $24 million a year, "but figuring out where has been really challenging."
Rapoport said: "[Jones] is more accomplished, he's older, it is a third contract, it's a different situation than the other guys."
Similar to Bosa's situation, the question Jones may be asking the Chiefs is how close can he get to Aaron Donald money? The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year candidate has accrued four consecutive Pro Bowl campaigns in the last four years and may believe he deserves a top-of-the-market deal and a much bigger raise compared to younger albeit less accomplished players at his position like Williams, Jeffery Simmons, and Daron Payne.
If Aaron Donald money is Jones' goal, the Chiefs may not be so willing to open their wallets.
Rapoport said "something significant" needs to happen for a deal to go through and that in his opinion, Jones may miss a game "to let you know how serious he's taking this."
For now, the Chiefs appear set to take the field without Jones in Week 1. More on the Jones drama to come.
