Two big-name sack artists looking for new deals are skipping mandatory minicamps this week.
The Cincinnati Bengals' Trey Hendrickson and Pittsburgh Steelers' T.J. Watt are each holding out, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday, per sources informed of the situation.
Unlike the previous offseason workouts, minicamps are mandatory, and players are subject to fines for each day they are absent. Missing Day 1 calls for a fine of $17,462. Day 2: $34,925. Day 3: $52,381. The three-day total comes out to $104,768 in potential penalties. Unlike training camp, fines for missing minicamp remain waivable.
Watt is seeking a new contract as he enters the final year of an extension he signed in 2021, with a base salary of $21.05 million. Watt currently sits as the seventh-highest-paid edge rusher in average annual salary at $28.003 million. A new deal should come in well above that for one of the NFL's best defensive terrorizers.
Rapoport noted that talks with Watt haven't progressed in Pittsburgh.
"Certainly, we'd like him to be here," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters following Tuesday's practice. "But certainly not surprised about where we are. We've expressed a desire to get the business done. He has as well. We'll continue to work. We've been here before."
The seven-time Steelers Pro Bowler has finished with double-digit sacks in six of the past seven seasons -- with only the injury-shortened 2022 season as the outlier. Watt led the NFL in sacks in 2020 (15), 2021 (22.5) and 2023 (19). In 2024, he finished with 11.5 sacks but led the NFL with six forced fumbles.
Hendrickson, likewise, has been a QB terror, leading the league in sacks in 2024 with 17.5. The 30-year-old has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and generated 57 total sacks since joining Cincy in 2021 -- 35 combined the last two years.
The Bengals pass rusher has been trying to get a new deal for the past several years. This offseason, things turned contentious, with no progress made on a multiyear extension. The club allowed Hendrickson to seek a trade earlier this offseason, to no avail, as teams shied away from giving up draft capital and paying the veteran the salary he's seeking.
Hendrickson has said he has no plans on playing for Cincy without a new contract. Skipping minicamp is the next phase of what continues to be an elongated staring contest.
