Contracts with Jordan Love and Tua Tagovailoa could reshape the QB market

NFL training camps across the league have either already begun or will be reporting their players in just a few days. The start of the preseason is still weeks away, but short clips of training in protective gear and anecdotes from sports reporters observing the training will have to suffice for now.

Of course, when the teams show up for training camp and everyone is in the building, it is also the perfect setting to get important news about injuries and contract negotiations and to find out about possible last-minute changes to the squad.

Here we take a look at some of the storylines that have emerged, including quarterbacks seeking a new contract, stars returning from injury, a young player who has already earned the respect of his teammates, and one of the best free agents available potentially finding a home.

Jordan Love was one of the most conspicuous holdouts when the league’s training camps began on Monday. The fifth-year quarterback made it known that he will not participate in practices or games until he has a new contract in place, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.

However, this is a good reminder that not all violations have to result in drama.

General manager Brian Gutekunst doesn’t seem to have a problem with Love missing the start of training camp. He told Demovsky, “We completely understand his motivations.”

Head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t seem too worried about it either. “I know how he prepares,” LaFleur said. “So I’m not too worried about it.”

This is a walkout that could help the Packers more than hurt them. Love has reportedly shown up at training camp and is attending meetings. However, Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt are running drills with the starters, and assistant coach Sean Mannion is throwing balls during drills when Green Bay needs another passer.

The Packers currently have one of the weaker quarterback rosters behind their starter, and Love’s absence for the first few days should give the Packers an opportunity to take a closer look at whether second-year player Sean Clifford or rookie Michael Pratt could truly take the reins if Love were to get injured.

The Packers have a young receiver corps with more than one breakout candidate. Love played at an elite level through 2023. It makes too much sense for the Packers to pay Love and keep the momentum going to let this contract situation boil over too late in training camp.

There is no reason to panic yet.

While there doesn’t seem to be much drama going on between the Green Bay Packers and Jordan Love, there could be a little more excitement between the Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa.

This is according to NFL insider Adam Schefter, who in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

Schefter noted that the Dolphins and Tagovailoa “aren’t as ready right now” as the Packers and Love. He further noted that the biggest point of contention between the two is how much of his contract is guaranteed.

Trevor Lawrence was the last big-name quarterback to receive a huge contract. The Jaguars signed him for five years and $275 million, with $200 million guaranteed. Jared Goff recently signed a four-year, $212 million extension, with $170.6 million guaranteed.

The scary thing for the Dolphins is Tagovailoa’s injury history. The 2023 season saw the quarterback play in all 17 games for the first time. Due to a hip dislocation, he only played in nine games in his final season at Alabama.

The Dolphins would be wise to protect themselves as much as possible in a contract extension. Tagovailoa’s long injury history and her ability to succeed regardless of the quarterback should give them some advantage.

Tagovailoa’s timing and accuracy are important to running the offense, but there are plenty of quarterbacks who could win in a Mike McDaniel offense featuring Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ training camp doesn’t begin until Wednesday, July 29, but they’re already starting camp on a positive note. Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that Joe Burrow has been cleared for contact.

Ari Meirov of the 33rd team added that Taylor expects Burrow to play some games in the preseason.

Back in May, Burrow admitted that it was a serious injury to deal with, even if it was not the worst physical injury he had ever suffered.

“It was a tough injury,” Burrow said, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby. “It’s been a rough couple of months, but physically it’s not the worst injury I’ve ever had. I’ve been through a lot tougher things physically, and that’s been a positive. I’ve really been able to get my strength back and continue my offseason program like it always has been.”

This is all good news for the Bengals, as it is the only way they have a chance to compete with a healthy Burrow under center.

The 27-year-old played in just 10 games before injuring his wrist and battling a calf injury earlier in the season. His projected air yards per attempt were a career-low 6.3 after averaging over eight yards in the first two years of his career.

The Bengals have so far decided not to pursue a trade or a new contract for Tee Higgins. With only one year left on his contract, this could be the last year for this version of the Bengals offense, with both Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins playing with Burrow.

Bengals fans got another positive update from leadership on Monday. Bengals owner Mike Brown told reporters before training camp that the team will “try everything” to get Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow playing together.

This is an important update in two ways.

First and foremost, it’s a public statement for Chase and their commitment to keep him, even if the price is likely to be historically high. Justin Jefferson redefined the receiver market with the largest contract ever for a non-quarterback.

Given his performance and the annual increase in salary cap, Chase has a good chance of getting an even bigger contract.

The Bengals showed they’re willing to spend money by signing Burrow to a five-year, $275 million deal, and they’ll have to dig deep again if they want to keep Chase.

The second implication of Brown’s comments is that they suggest the Bengals’ lack of interest in Tee Higgins. The 25-year-old is in the final year of his contract, has requested a trade and has seen the franchise tag extension deadline pass without a new deal being signed.

Despite all this unrest, the Bengals owner stated in his comments to the media that Burrow and Chase were priority No. 1 and No. 2.

It continues to look like the trio of Burrow, Chase and Higgins will be making their final appearance. Third-round pick Jermaine Burton will be a name to keep an eye on in training camp as the Bengals need to prepare someone to be the No. 2 receiver of the future.

Keenan Allen is still putting in an excellent performance in the 12th year of his career, but this is a good time to remind everyone that he finished with over 1,000 yards receiving and was the runner-up for Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2013.

This is significant because he believes that his rookie teammate Rome Odunze is already better than him at this point in his career.

“He’s a little better than I was when I first started here,” he told reporters Sunday. “He’s faster. I think he comes out of his breaks better than I did when I was that young. He seems more polished as a receiver than I was.”

That’s high praise from Allen. The veteran has six Pro Bowl seasons under his belt and has over 10,000 receiving yards in his career. When healthy, he has been a consistent performer in a variety of offenses and with multiple quarterbacks.

His precise routing and attention to detail should make him a strong leader for Odunze and other young receivers on the Bears roster.

Standing at 6’3″ and weighing 215 pounds, Odunze has quick feet and moves smoothly for his size. Allen’s emphasis on his breaks and speed speaks volumes about Odunze’s potential.

If he really is better than Allen, the Bears would have a scary WR trio with Odunze, Allen and DJ Moore.

Connor Williams is one of the most talented players currently on the free agent market, but he might not be available for much longer.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the 27-year-old will visit the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday. Williams’ season was ended early by a torn ACL in Week 14. It’s difficult to predict a timetable for Williams’ return after he sustained the injury in December.

Still, he could be a difference-maker when he returns, so it would make sense for a team to sign him sooner rather than later.

The Seahawks are also a good option for Williams. He was one of the highest-rated interior defenders on PFF with an 86.5 grade as a center before being placed on the IR list. However, he has also proven to be a good guard.

Seattle is pretty undecided on the interior. Center Evan Brown and guard Damien Lewis both left as free agents. Phil Hayes also played a lot of snaps at left guard and has not yet signed a contract.

The team has signed Laken Tomlinson and Nick Harris. Tomlinson will likely start at left guard, while Harris will compete with Olu Oluwatimi at the pivot position.

A healthy Williams would be an improvement over either option at center and could even compete with Anthony Bradford at right guard.

The Vikings got a classic case of good news and bad news regarding tight end TJ Hockenson. Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that Hockenson will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list, but is actually progressing faster than planned with his recovery from the torn ACL that ended his season last year.

O’Connell provided an encouraging update on Hockenson’s recovery.

“TJ will begin training camp on the PUP list. He is well ahead of schedule on some of his rehab goals. If you look back at the offseason program, TJ hasn’t really missed a day other than the visits to his surgeon in Los Angeles. He’s been here every single day and that continued all summer,” he said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.

O’Connell later added that they hope Hockenson will increase his activity as the camp progresses.

Hockenson broke out in his first full season with the Vikings, setting career highs in receptions (95) and yards (960) with five touchdowns. He will have to be even better in 2024.

O’Connell also said that Sam Darnold will get most of the first-team action in training camp, and JJ McCarthy will get some action as well. With Darnold taking over Kirk Cousins’ starting position, the Vikings will need Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Hockenson to lead the offense.