Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin are in different conferences with different responsibilities on the field. But as training camps opened this summer, their situations looked strikingly similar.
Both veterans delayed reporting, beginning camp as holdouts before shifting into hold-ins. They were present at team facilities but limited activity while negotiating extensions.
The parallel was noted by ESPN reporters Ben Baby and John Keim. They pointed out that Hendrickson and McLaurin are fresh off one of their best NFL seasons yet, and remain tethered to deals that lag behind current production.
"Both veterans, who will each be 30 years old by the end of September, are angling for new contracts," Baby and Keim wrote.
Hendrickson led the league last season with 17.5 sacks, notching his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl and earning All-Pro honors for the first time. Baby noted that he is due just $16 million this year, half the cash payout of Houston's Danielle Hunter.
McLaurin continued his consistency as Washington's top target, posting his fifth straight 1,000-yard campaign and ranking second in the league with 13 touchdown catches. Keim notes that, even so, he enters the final year of his current deal ranked 17th among receivers in average annual salary.
According to Baby and Keim, both players are in nearly identical positions: producing at a high level yet working from contracts that no longer reflect their value.
Trey Hendrickson's Bengals and Terry McLaurin's Commanders meet tonight, but neither star will be on the field. Coaches on both sidelines likely wish they had their veterans available.
Both organizations and the players themselves will be eager to reach resolutions that will bring the standouts back to full participation.