Predicting the Biggest NFL Extension Decisions Based on Latest Rumors

After the NFL draft, most teams revisit and ramp up contract negotiations. In cases with star players, these talks can linger on for weeks or months as front offices try to find a sweet spot in ongoing discussions.

Oftentimes, after public posturing and social media posts, players and teams agree on big-money deals, some of which reset a position market.

However, some clubs only temporarily resolve contract disputes, placing a short-term Band-Aid on the issue with a restructured deal and the intent to pick up negotiations in the following year.

Going through the post-draft contract buzz, we'll project the short-term verdict and potential contract for the 10 biggest leaguewide decisions on extensions.

James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

This offseason, the Buffalo Bills have signed quarterback Josh Allen, wide receiver Khalil Shakir, defensive end Greg Rousseau and linebacker Terrel Bernard to extensions.

James Cook wants a new deal worth $15 million annually, but he will likely wait until next offseason to get a pay raise.

General manager Brandon Beane took a stance on Cook's contract situation that suggests the running back is a year away from getting a new deal.

"I don't see us getting something done anytime soon…..we're onto the draft….just because we don't get something done this year doesn't mean we can't get something done before he's a free agent," Beane told reporters in March.

Cook, 25, is aiming for a new deal that would make him among the league's top three highest-paid running backs. Though he's a key contributor in the Bills offense, Buffalo's offensive success hinges on Allen's performances.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Cook will play for the Bills in the upcoming campaign regardless of his contract situation. The two-time Pro Bowler may be willing to show patience with his desire for a new deal.

Verdict: Cook plays through 2025 without a new contract

Sauce Gardner, CB, New York Jets

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Sauce Gardner is one of three first-rounders from the New York Jets' 2022 draft class eligible for an extension.

In March, general manager Darren Mougey hinted that it was a priority to retain Gardner and wideout Garrett Wilson for the long term.

"The to-do list is to keep good young players on the team and add good players, so yeah," Mougey said.

Some Jet fans may prefer the team wait on Gardner's extension. After two All-Pro seasons, he had a solid 2024 campaign, recording nine pass breakups and an interception while allowing one touchdown and an 86.9 passer rating in coverage.

Though the 24-year-old hasn't allowed more than one touchdown in a single season, he has only registered three interceptions. Of course, a cornerback's worth goes beyond turnovers, but is that the type of player to sign on a market-setting deal?

Gardner's agent can point to Jaycee Horn's four-year, $100 million contract and make the case that his client deserves a little more than the Carolina Panthers cornerback, who has missed 31 career games, only made one Pro Bowl roster and has five interceptions in four seasons.

SNY's Connor Hughes noted that it sounds like extension talks for Gardner will be a post-draft topic for the Jets. So, the team could ramp up discussions with the fourth-year cornerback in the coming weeks.

Verdict: Jets sign Gardner to a three-year, $94.5 million extension

Trey Hendrickson, Edge, Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

The Cincinnati Bengals have been in a contract standoff with Trey Hendrickson over the past few months. Early in March, they permitted him to seek a trade, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Even though the Bengals selected edge-rusher Shemar Stewart with the 17th overall pick in the draft, The Athletic's Dianna Russini says she's getting "really good vibes" about Cincinnati signing Hendrickson to an extension.

At this point, the Bengals shouldn't be entertaining trade offers because moving Hendrickson has no benefit for them this year. They signed wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to new deals, so it makes sense to retain their best edge-rusher in a push to get back into the playoffs.

Verdict: Bengals sign Hendrickson to a three-year, $96 million extension

Tyler Linderbaum, C, Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Typically, when a team declines a player's fifth-year option, it's an indication that he's underperformed based on the expectations of a first-round pick, but Tyler Linderbaum's situation is an exception.

The 25-year-old has made the AFC Pro Bowl roster in back-to-back seasons. He's one of the league's best centers. Yet the Baltimore Ravens declined his fifth-year option.

ESPN's Jamison Hensley provided context to the Ravens' decision:

"The decision to not pick up Linderbaum's option is based on the unusually high financial commitment and not performance. Linderbaum's fifth-year option would have been $23.4 million in 2026, which would have been $5.4 million more than the NFL's highest-paid center in terms of average per year."

Because the NFL doesn't differentiate pay rates for tenders and tags among tackles, guards and centers, his fifth-year option salary could be more than the Ravens are willing to pay him on an extension. So, it makes sense that the team declined the optional year with a preference for working on a new deal.

Considering Ronnie Stanley's injury history, Linderbaum is Baltimore's most reliable offensive lineman over the last three years. He's going to be rewarded in the near future.

According to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec, the Ravens don't want the Iowa product "hitting the open market," so it puts the team on the clock to get a deal done sooner than later.

Linderbaum will top Cam Jurgens' four-year, $68 million contract on the center pay scale.

Verdict: Ravens sign Linderbaum to a four-year, $76 million extension

Micah Parsons, Edge, Dallas Cowboys

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The Dallas Cowboys are prepared to back up the Brinks Truck for Micah Parsons. 

According to longtime Cowboys scribe Clarence E. Hill Jr. of All City DLLS (h/t Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams), they put together an offer that would make the 25-yer-old the league's highest-paid non-quarterback.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted the Cowboys may take some time before they sign Parsons to a historic deal (h/t Bleacher Report's Joseph Zucker).

"They want to keep Parsons long term," Fowler said. "They do have a penchant for signing their star players, it just takes a little while. Last year, Dak Prescott didn't get his deal done until Sept. 8, right before the season; CeeDee Lamb late August."

Any time a team is negotiating a megadeal, it usually takes weeks or months to hammer out all the details. 

Parsons has won 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year, made the NFC Pro Bowl roster in all four of his seasons and earned two All-Pro nods. Undoubtedly, Dallas will pay him as he enters the final year of his deal.

Verdict: Cowboys sign Parsons to a four-year, $166 million extension

Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

In the NFL, most starting quarterbacks will get paid more than you expect because of the importance of the position.

While you can argue Brock Purdy isn't a top-10 QB who deserves more than $50 million annually, that salary benchmark might be the floor for negotiations between his agent and the San Francisco 49ers.

According to The Athletic's Mike Jones, the Niners will pay him top-10 quarterback money.

"Purdy is expected to wind up with a contract that will pay him around $50 million per season and places him among the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league," Jones wrote.

Purdy has 40 starts and one Pro Bowl year on his resume. He's coming off a season in which he threw for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and he has dealt with elbow injuries in two of his three seasons. 

However, Purdy helped lead the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game in back-to-back campaigns and a Super Bowl appearance.

General manager John Lynch gave an update on the team's talks with Purdy's representatives.

"When it gets done, I'm not sure," he said in an interview with Pro Football Talk. "Hope sooner rather than later, but hope is not a strategy. So, we're making progress. We've had good discussions."

The 49ers will likely sign Purdy to an extension before training camp.

Verdict: 49ers sign Purdy to a five-year, $270 million extension

Rashawn Slater, LT, Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

In his first year under head coach Jim Harbaugh, Rashawn Slater made the AFC Pro Bowl roster, just as he did as a rookie in 2021.

Aside from an injury-shortened 2022 season, Slater has put together quality years in Los Angeles. Under Harbaugh, he's an essential cog in a physical offense.

After the draft, general manager Joe Hortiz said he's "hopeful" to get a deal done.

With the addition of running backs Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton, expect the Chargers to keep the offensive line intact with their two-time Pro Bowl left tackle on a new contract.

The Athletic's Daniel Popper expects the Chargers to make Slater the league's highest-paid offensive tackle.

Verdict: Chargers sign Slater to a four-year, $116 million extension

T.J. Watt, Edge, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

At 30 years old, T.J. Watt is still one of the league's premier edge-rushers. He's a seven-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year.

In three out of eight seasons, the star pass-rusher has led the NFL in sacks, most recently in 2023.

As the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, still performing at a high level, Watt will likely top Myles Garrett's four-year, $160 million contract to become the highest-paid edge-rusher.

Early in April, the 30-year-old posted a cryptic photo of him putting up the peace sign on Instagram amid negotiations with the team. 

Steelers fans shouldn't get riled up about Watt's offseason social media post, though. He's going into the final year of his deal without guaranteed money. He isn't going to play a single down on a non-guaranteed contract.

Pittsburgh will sign its best player to a deal that will make him the highest-paid non-quarterback if he signs before Micah Parsons.

With a big question mark at quarterback, the Steelers defense must play at a high level every week. The unit needs Watt on the field. 

Verdict: Steelers sign Watt to a four-year, $164 million extension

Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers

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AP Photo/Scot Tucker

Fred Warner will wait his turn at the negotiating table.

The San Francisco 49ers signed tight end George Kittle to a four-year, $76.4 million extension. General manager John Lynch told Pro Football Talk that he's had positive discussions with quarterback Brock Purdy's camp.

Thus far, Warner's contract situation hasn't generated much buzz. However, that will likely change after the 49ers agree to terms with Purdy or in the summer around the start of training camp.

In the meantime, the 28-year-old doesn't plan to miss time amid a contract dispute with the 49ers, via ESPN's Nick Wagoner.

"#49ers LB Fred Warner says he does not plan to miss any part of the offseason program as part of a contract dispute. He expressed confidence his agent and the Niners will figure out the right move on a potential extension." 

Warner has two non-guaranteed years left on his contract. As an All-Pro player, he will get a new deal before playing another snap. Still in his prime, he could make over $20 million annually to become the highest-paid off-ball linebacker.

"I have a hard time believing that they're not going to make Fred Warner the highest-paid linebacker in football," The Athletic's Dianna Russini said on the Scoop City podcast.

Verdict: 49ers sign Warner to a three-year, $63 million extension

Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Despite the New York Jets' inconsistencies under former head coach Robert Saleh, Garrett Wilson has been Mr. Reliable, playing in every game and racking up 1,042-plus receiving yards in all three of his seasons.

Since the Jets drafted the 24-year-old, he's caught passes from six different quarterbacks who have made multiple starts for the team. Though he has yet to make a Pro Bowl or All-Pro roster, he's the Jets' best offensive playmaker and has a high ceiling if the club can find stability at the most important position.

This offseason, the Jets signed quarterback Justin Fields, who has a rapport with Wilson from their time at Ohio State. If the duo clicks right away, Wilson could finish with career-high numbers in multiple receiving categories. 

In February, The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt said Wilson likely wants "around $30 million" on a new deal, which would put him in the top eight among receivers on the annual pay scale.

If SNY's Connor Hughes is right in thinking the Jets will focus on extensions for their top two picks from the 2022 draft, Wilson may get what he wants on a new deal.

Verdict: Jets sign Wilson to a four-year, $122 million extension