Hold-in tactic gains traction in NFL contracts

An analysis of how players use hold-ins to protect earnings as Rashawn Slater secures a big payday.

Rashawn Slater Injury Confirms Hold-In Advantage

Rashawn Slater, the Chargers tackle taken one pick after Micah Parsons in the 2021 draft, signed a long term extension late last month. The move shows a growing tactic where players skip full practice to protect contract terms while negotiations continue. By locking in the payday before any serious injury, Slater shifts some risk onto the Chargers.

The pattern appears broader than one case. Several players have used hold-ins to avoid the kind of injury that could derail a negotiation, including Parsons, Terry McLaurin, Trey Hendrickson, James Cook and Cam Heyward. The practice raises questions about how talent, health and team calculations interact during a negotiation year.

The hold-in tactic reflects a shift in power as players leverage earnings against the uncertainty of injuries. It favors players with guaranteed contracts and can reduce on field practice, which might affect development and team chemistry. For teams, it means they sometimes pay more upfront for certainty while absorbing risk if the player gets hurt after signing.

Long term effects could push front offices to rethink guarantees, incentive structures and how they price risk across a season. The trend may pressure younger players to adopt similar strategies earlier, changing the negotiation landscape across leagues and forcing clubs to adapt their scouting and cap planning to protect against sudden losses.

Highlights

The contract game keeps evolving as risk and reward tilt with every new deal.