NFL Training Camp 2024: Jordan Love, Tua Tagovailoa Contracts Could Reshape QB Market (2024)

NFL training camps across the league are either underway or just a few days from players reporting. We're still weeks away from the preseason kicking off, but short clips of padded practice and tidbits from beat writers watching practice will have to do for now.

Of course, teams showing up for camp and getting everyone in the building is also the perfect context to get important updated on injuries and contract negotiations as well as buzz about potential late roster moves.

Here, we'll take a look at some of the storylines that have emerged, including quarterbacks seeking new contracts, stars returning from injury, a young player already earning the respect of their teammates and one of the top free agents available potentially finding a home.

Jordan Love was among the most notable holdouts as training camps kicked off around the league on Monday. The fifth-year quarterback made it know that he won't participate in practices or games until he has a new contract, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.

This is a good reminder that not all holdouts have to devolve into drama, though.

General manager Brian Gutekunst doesn't seem to have a problem with Love missing the dawn of training camp, telling Demovsky, "We completely understand where he's coming from."

Head coach Matt LaFleur didn't seem to be too worried about it either. "I know how he prepares," LaFleur said. "So, I'm not overly concerned about that."

This is a holdout that could actually help the Packers more than hurt them. Love reportedly showed up to camp and is participating in meetings. However, Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt are getting the reps with the starters, and assistant coach Sean Mannion is throwing balls during drill work when Green Bay needs another passer.

The Packers have one of the weaker quarterback rooms behind their starter right now. Love sitting out the first few days should give the Packers a closer look at whether second-year player Sean Clifford or rookie Michael Pratt could really take the reins in the event of a Love injury.

The Packers have a young receiving corps with more than one breakout candidate. Love played at an elite level down the stretch of 2023. It makes too much sense for the Packers to pay Love and keep the momentum moving forward for this contract situation to boil over too deep into camp.

There's no need for panic yet.

While there doesn't seem to be much drama brewing between the Green Bay Packers and Jordan Love, there's a little more possible tension between the Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa.

That's according to NFL insider Adam Schefter, who shed some light on the situation in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

Schefter noted that the Dolphins and Tagovailoa are "not as far along right now" as the Packers and Love. He went on to note that the main hang-up between the two is how much of his contract will be guaranteed.

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

The scary element for the Dolphins is Tagovailoa's injury history. The quarterback's 2023 campaign was the first time he played in all 17 games. He also played in just nine games in his final season at Alabama due to a hip dislocation.

The Dolphins would be wise to set themselves up with as much protection as possible in an extension. Tagovailoa's extensive injury history and how well they are set up to win regardless of quarterback should give them some leverage.

Tagovailoa's timing and accuracy are important to executing the offense, but there are a lot of quarterbacks who could win in a Mike McDaniel offense with Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill.

The Cincinnati Bengals don't kick off training camp until Wednesday, July 29, but they are already starting camp off on a positive note. Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that Joe Burrow has been fully cleared for contact.

Ari Meirov of 33rd Team added that Taylor anticipates that Burrow will play some in the preseason.

Back in May, Burrow acknowledged it's been a tough injury to deal with, although not the worst physical injury he's had.

"This was a difficult injury," Burrow said, per Ben Baby of ESPN. "It's been a tough several months, but physically it's not the worst injury that I've had. I've been through much tougher things physically and so that's been a positive. I've been able to really lift and continue my offseason program kind of the way that it always has been."

This is all good news for the Bengals because the only way they are a contender is with a healthy Burrow behind center.

The 27-year-old played in only 10 games before the wrist injury and dealt with a calf injury early in the season. His intended air yards per attempt was a career-low 6.3 after averaging over eight yards in the first two years of his career.

The Bengals have chosen not to pursue a trade or a new contract for Tee Higgins to this point. With just one more year left on his deal, this could be the final year for this iteration of a Bengals offense with both Ja'Marr Chase and Higgins playing with Burrow.

The Bengals faithful got another positive update from leadership on Monday. Bengals owner Mike Brown told reporters ahead of training camp that the team will "try hard" to keep Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Burrow playing together.

It's an important update on two fronts.

First and foremost, it's a public nod to Chase and their commitment to keep him around even when the price tag figures to be historic. Justin Jefferson reset the receiver market with the biggest contract for a non-quarterback ever.

Chase is going to have a case to get an even bigger contract given his production and a salary cap that continues to rise annually.

The Bengals have shown they are willing to spend by signing Burrow to his five-year, $275 million contract. They will once again have to open the vault if they want to keep Chase.

The second impact of Brown's comments is that it implies 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 watched the franchise tag extension deadline pass with no new deal.

Despite all of that unrest, the Bengals owner said that Burrow and Chase were Priority No. 1 and No. 2 in his comments to media.

Things continue to point toward a last ride for the Burrow, Chase and Higgins trio. Third-round pick Jermaine Burton will be a name to watch in training camp as the Bengals will need to prepare someone to be the No. 2 receiver of the future.

Keenan Allen is still offering elite production heading into 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 runner-up for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2013.

That's significant because he thinks that rookie teammate Rome Odunze is already better than he was at this point in his career.

"He's a little bit better than me when I came in," 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 looks more polished than I was as a receiver."

This is high praise from Allen. The veteran has put together six Pro Bowl seasons and has over 10,000 receiving yards in his career. As long as he's been healthy, he's been a consistent producer in various offenses and with multiple quarterbacks.

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

At 6'3", 212 pounds, Odunze has nimble feet for his size and is a smooth mover. Allen's emphasis on his breaks and speed speaks volumes about Odunze's potential.

If he's truly 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 who remains on the free-agent market. He might not be available for much longer, though.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the 27-year-old is set to visit the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday. Williams' season was cut short by a torn ACL in Week 14. It's tough to project a timetable for Williams to return after suffering 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 than later.

The Seahawks also make a lot of sense as a potential home for Williams. He was one of the highest-graded interior linemen on PFF with an 86.5 grade at center before going on the IR. However, he's also proved to be a good guard.

Seattle is fairly unsettled on the interior. Center Evan Brown and guard Damien Lewis both left in free agency. Phil Hayes also played a lot of snaps at left guard and remains unsigned.

The team did sign Laken Tomlinson and Nick Harris. Tomlinson is the likely starter at left guard, while Harris will compete with Olu Oluwatimi at the pivot.

A healthy Williams would be an upgrade over both options at center and could even compete with Anthony Bradford at right guard.

The Vikings got a classic case of good news, bad news in regards to tight end T.J. Hockenson. Head coach Kevin O'Connell announced that Hockenson will start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform List but is actually ahead of schedule in his recovery from the ACL tear that ended his season last year.

O'Connell passed along an encouraging update on Hockenson's recovery.

"T.J. will begin training camp on the PUP list. He's well ahead of schedule from a standpoint of some of the benchmarks on his rehab. T.J., looking back at the offseason program, did not miss really a day outside going to see his surgeon in Los Angeles. He was here every single day and that continued through the summer," he said, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.

O'Connell later went on to say that the hope is that Hockenson will ramp up his activity as camp progresses.

Hockenson went off in his first full season with the Vikings, setting career highs in receptions (95) and yards (960) with five touchdowns. They will need him to be even better in 2024.

O'Connell also continued to say that Sam Darnold will see the majority of the first-team reps at camp with J.J. McCarthy also seeing some. With Darnold taking over the starting role from Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will need Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Hockenson to carry the offense.