0 out of 5

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Aaron Donald accepted a reworked contract Monday, becoming the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. With the Los Angeles Rams superstar finally getting his well-deserved deal done, it’s the perfect time to highlight other stars set to earn some big extensions.

There are several players who are likely to put their names on massive contracts soon.

Some of these players have been franchised as a precaution and are likely to enter into a longer-term deal this offseason. Others are nearing the end of their current deals, and a few are expected to become eligible for their first extension as they head into their fourth season in the NFL.

With that in mind, here are five players likely to get big paydays as a result of Donald’s deal. The players are listed in alphabetical order.

1 out of 5

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The Cincinnati Bengals may have placed the franchise tag on Jessie Bates III this offseason, but he’s unlikely to play the 2022 campaign on it.

The Cincinnati Brass rolled out the tag as a strategy to get a few more months of trading time with their star safety, as teams have until July 15 before being locked into the terms of the tag.

While Bates could ultimately play out the campaign for $12.9 million, the 25-year-old is much more likely to avoid signing the franchise tender and instead sign a long-term extension.

According to NFL.com’s Adam Maya, Bates said he wanted to avoid a one-year contract after seeing multiple players get injured in a franchise-scarred season. He previously admitted he was not happy to play the 2021 season – the finale of his rookie deal – without a new contract and should finally get his wish for long-term security this off-season.

Bates has racked up an impressive 408 tackles, 35 pass defenses and 10 interceptions since being drafted 54th in 2018.

NFL.com’s Nick Shook reported that Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor called safety “a big part of what we do” after helping lead the Bengals to their first Super Bowl in more than three decades.

The Wake Forest product is now live to earn a significant raise. Anthony Holzman-Escareno predicts that Bates will earn around $16 million a year on his next contract, a deal that the NFL.com senior researcher predicts will net a total of $80 million over the next half-decade .

2 out of 5

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After recruit an agent to help with negotiations, Orlando Brown Jr. is on track to sign a massive contract.

The star offensive tackle joined the Kansas City Chiefs in a blockbuster trade last offseason. The Chiefs have forgone a slew of capital projects to shore up their blind side and will now want to ensure they get the most out of this sizable investment.

While Brown received a non-exclusive franchise tag in early March – giving the Chiefs the right to match any offers the left tackle receives and compensation in the form of two first-round picks if he signs elsewhere – it seems that the two parties prefer to conclude a long-term agreement this summer.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach says there’s ‘no rush’ to get an extension in April, but an NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported a few weeks ago that Kansas City was ready to negotiate as soon as Brown hired an agent.

With that piece of the puzzle in place, it looks like it will only be a matter of time before Brown’s big deal is signed and announced.

And the 26-year-old’s contract is going to be important. His former Ravens teammate Ronnie Stanley agreed to a five-year, $99 million extension in the 2020 season, and Terron Armstead signed a five-year, $75 million deal this offseason, setting the market for a tackle of Brown’s caliber.

Factor in Brown’s desire to become the highest-paid left tackle, and it’s likely the Chiefs will offer around $105 million over five years to lock him in.

3 out of 5

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Lamar Jackson has seen several of his quarterback contemporaries agree to gargantuan contract extensions in recent months. Now, the Baltimore Ravens signalman is set to strike his own deal, which will break the bank.

While Jackson is poised to earn a respectable $23 million for the 2022 campaign after Baltimore picked his fifth-year option, that number pales in comparison to the extensions of other star QBs like Aaron Rodgers (three years, 151 million), Matthew Stafford (four years, $160 million) and Deshaun Watson (five years, $230 million) received this offseason.

The 25-year-old was notably absent from OTAs at the start of training camp – practices he never skipped in his first four seasons – as negotiations with the Ravens brass stalled. .

The club offered Jackson an extension earlier in the offseason, an extension which the QB did not accept. He also reportedly claimed in April that he wanted to wait until the end of the 2022 season to discuss an extension.

While it remains to be seen whether Jackson will turn his absence from the team’s volunteer activities into a full-fledged training camp, it would be in the best interests of both parties to strike a long-term deal quickly.

If both sides return to the negotiating table, expect the Ravens to float something in the vicinity of Watson’s new contract to secure Jackson’s signature.

A four-year, $187 million deal would make Jackson the second-highest-paid QB in football and bring him back to the open market before he turns 30, a deal that should make both parties happy.

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Lamar Jackson isn’t the only quarterback on the cusp of a big payday. Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals is eligible for an extension and is looking for a massive raise.

While the Cardinals have already picked up the most expensive fifth-year option in NFL history, the 24-year-old could soon get an extension to match.

There were a few bumps in the road during the negotiations. On Feb. 13, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that the Arizona Brass weren’t sold on the QB as a franchise player, describing the former No. 1 pick as “self-centered and immature” after the loss. embarrassment of the team in the playoffs against the rival Los Angeles Rams. About two weeks later, Murray’s agent published
a statement demanding that his client be paid.

According to ArizonaSports.com, Murray has not participated in voluntary OTAs, but is expected to be in attendance for the mandatory sessions starting next week. SI.com’s Aaron Decker noted that head coach Kliff Kingsbury was not surprised by Murray’s absence.

Arizona invested heavily in Murray’s supporting cast this offseason. The team overturned the Baltimore Ravens a first-round pick to acquire Marchesa “Hollywood” Brown – Murray’s collegiate teammate at Oklahoma – and used her first selection at No. 85 overall to bring the winger on board. tight Trey McBride.

All the pieces are in place for Murray to have a successful 2022 season, one that could be drama-free if both sides can find an extension.

While it might take a while, it would ultimately be beneficial for the Cardinals and their quarterback to get a long-term deal in place. If Arizona is willing to shell out something like $280 million over the next six years, Murray should be locked in and ready to be the cornerstone of the franchise.

5 out of 5

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At Deebo Samuel public commercial demand has been a major talking point in the league this offseason. However, it is likely that he will not only stay with the San Francisco 49ers but also sign a new contract with his current club.

The 49ers resisted the draft and have always maintained that they want Samuel to be part of their future. San Francisco general manager John Lynch said he would be a “idiotto face off and recently reiterated that Samuel will be part of the squad in the 2022 season.

While the Niners don’t have to work on a contract extension for Samuel — he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract after being drafted 36th overall in 2019 — it’s in their interest to keep one of the most productive players in the league. players happy and around for the long haul.

Samuel was an integral part of San Francisco’s offense in their run to the 2022 NFC Championship Game. He played numerous positions while racking up 1,770 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns during an All-Pro regular season, and he added 291 extra yards and two scores in the 49ers playoffs.

With Trey Lance poised to take over as the team’s starting QB in 2022, San Francisco can’t afford to lose its most dangerous weapon. Fortunately, Samuel is scheduled to attend the team’s mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday, and it looks like some nasty resistance will be avoided, at least for now.

The chances of a heist can be entirely erased if the 49ers and Samuel can agree on a new contract. Although he probably won’t command a deal valued at the same level as more proven options like Davante Adams (five years, $150 million), Tyreek Hill (four years, $120 million) or DeAndre Hopkins (two years, $54.5 million), he is expected to bring in a bid worth nearly $100 million over the next four years.