The 2025 NFL off-season is red hot as Organized Team Activities (OTAs) begin around the league, but several headliner players, such as Kirk Cousins, T.J. Watt, and Micah Parsons, are nowhere to be seen. Although attendance at OTAs is not mandatory, the choices of these notable players to skip have triggered rumors about unsettled contract disputes, trade considerations, and rehabilitation return schedules. These no-shows are at a critical juncture when nearly all clubs are building towards the start of the next season.
NFL icons Kirk Cousins and T.J. Watt miss OTAs amid uncertain futures and contract negotiations
Quarterback Kirk Cousins, currently a member of the Atlanta Falcons, has caused eyebrows to be raised after skipping the team's first OTA session this week. While Kirk Cousins had attended workouts earlier in the offseason, his recent absence stokes rumors that he is trying to get traded after being benched last season for rookie Michael Penix Jr.
Kirk Cousins has never publicly asked for relocation, but he reportedly might be willing to waive his no-trade clause in order to land a starting role somewhere else.
In the Pittsburgh Steelers, meanwhile, linebacker T.J. Watt is not participating in OTAs either. As he enters the final season of a four-year, $112 million contract he signed in 2021, T.J. Watt is thought to be waiting for a market-adjusting extension. With Cleveland Browns pass-rush icon Myles Garrett now making $40 million a year, Watt's camp is supposed to be gunning for a number that would make him the NFL's highest-paid defender.
Meanwhile, in the Dallas Cowboys, new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer confirmed that edge rusher Micah Parsons also skipped OTAs. While the coach played it down, saying he lunched with Parsons last week, it coincides with increasing rumors of a new contract being in the works.
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is another prominent name absent from early workouts. With two straight 1,200-yard seasons in his resume, Cook is said to be seeking a pay increase that can place him in the top three highest-paid backs in the NFL.
A further notable miss is Cincinnati Bengals rookie Shemar Stewart, who's abstaining from on-field work while contract language negotiations are ongoing, though he has reported to the facility.
Also read: NFL remains silent as Stefon Diggs’ boat video with pink powder sparks major online controversy
While voluntary OTAs continue, the fact that players like Kirk Cousins, T.J. Watt, and Micah Parsons are not participating acts as a reminder that the NFL offseason is every bit as strategic off the field as on the field. Whether it was contract holdout, trade configuration, or rehab, any one of these players' moves can have ripple effects as teams prepare for the 2025 season. With required camps on the horizon, these early indications may be colossal developments in short order.
NFL icons Kirk Cousins and T.J. Watt miss OTAs amid uncertain futures and contract negotiations
Quarterback Kirk Cousins, currently a member of the Atlanta Falcons, has caused eyebrows to be raised after skipping the team's first OTA session this week. While Kirk Cousins had attended workouts earlier in the offseason, his recent absence stokes rumors that he is trying to get traded after being benched last season for rookie Michael Penix Jr.
Kirk Cousins has never publicly asked for relocation, but he reportedly might be willing to waive his no-trade clause in order to land a starting role somewhere else.
In the Pittsburgh Steelers, meanwhile, linebacker T.J. Watt is not participating in OTAs either. As he enters the final season of a four-year, $112 million contract he signed in 2021, T.J. Watt is thought to be waiting for a market-adjusting extension. With Cleveland Browns pass-rush icon Myles Garrett now making $40 million a year, Watt's camp is supposed to be gunning for a number that would make him the NFL's highest-paid defender.
Meanwhile, in the Dallas Cowboys, new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer confirmed that edge rusher Micah Parsons also skipped OTAs. While the coach played it down, saying he lunched with Parsons last week, it coincides with increasing rumors of a new contract being in the works.
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is another prominent name absent from early workouts. With two straight 1,200-yard seasons in his resume, Cook is said to be seeking a pay increase that can place him in the top three highest-paid backs in the NFL.
A further notable miss is Cincinnati Bengals rookie Shemar Stewart, who's abstaining from on-field work while contract language negotiations are ongoing, though he has reported to the facility.
Also read: NFL remains silent as Stefon Diggs’ boat video with pink powder sparks major online controversy
While voluntary OTAs continue, the fact that players like Kirk Cousins, T.J. Watt, and Micah Parsons are not participating acts as a reminder that the NFL offseason is every bit as strategic off the field as on the field. Whether it was contract holdout, trade configuration, or rehab, any one of these players' moves can have ripple effects as teams prepare for the 2025 season. With required camps on the horizon, these early indications may be colossal developments in short order.
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