The NFL is a deadline-driven business, and in an industry that requires bilateral negotiation, it’s all about both sides identifying a mutual deadline and waiting for that deadline to arrive.
This is a simple proposition. As the clock strikes twelve, the parties move to their lowest positions. If either side prematurely moves to their last best offer, that side will be forced to ask for more.
Perhaps the same thing is happening with the three receivers awaiting new contracts: 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk, CeeDee Lamb of the Cowboys and Ja’Marr Chase of the Bengals.
Two have put their contracts on hold and one is on hold, and as things stand, they’re likely to get new deals in place at essentially the last moment once both teams and their agents come to an agreement.
It was clear from the start of camp that the deadline for Lamb and the Cowboys wouldn’t be at the start of camp, but rather the start of the regular season, or more accurately, the start of the week of practice before the Week 1 game against Cleveland.
The same could be true for Chase and the Bengals, but last year quarterback Joe Burrow signed three days before the regular season began. Unlike Burrow, Chase hasn’t practiced. If the Bengals want Chase to be ready for Week 1 against the Patriots, they’ll need to get it done when the players reconvene after the preseason ends over Labor Day weekend.
With things quieting down (again) for Aiyuk and the 49ers, it’s more likely the 49ers will make a final offer and Aiyuk will accept it before their Week 1 game against the Jets, but the 49ers probably won’t do that now, because Aiyuk’s camp will naturally keep quiet about the offer and wait for more as the deadline approaches.
If the Steelers do acquire Aiyuk in a trade, what are they waiting for? It seems like it’s already too late to get him ready for Week 1 against Atlanta. New team, new offense, new coaching staff, new teammates, new city, new everything. Very few positions in football are out-of-the-box, especially on the offensive line. What one position does is interrelated with 10 others. The less time a rookie has to get acclimated, the harder it is.
Either way, time is the key word. Time is running out. We’ll know when the witching hour approaches whether these three pass catchers sign new contracts.
