Tracking the NFL players deciding to opt out of the 2020 season

As per the agreement made by the NFL and NFL Players Association last week, NFL players have been given the option to opt out of the 2020 season if they are too concerned about their health in the age of the current pandemic. The agreement says these players will see a salary advance of $150,000 this year or, if they are considered a high-risk candidate for the COVID-19 virus, a $350,000 stipend.

In addition, the player’s contract will be tolled—or put on pause for a year. In other words, if a player is due a $8 million salary in 2020, that figure, and all the subsequent amounts, will be pushed back a season.

As a result of this agreement, many players have already decided to opt out for the 2020 season. A couple of the most significant players who decided to sit the season are Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower and Bears defensive tackle Eddie Goldman.

NFL players are scheduled to report to training camp on Tuesday, so we’ll likely continue to hear about more opt outs throughout the day. Although players have until August 3 to declare if they want to opt out.

UPDATE: The opt-out deadline has passed. Here is the final list of players who chose to opt out:

Detroit Lions

DT John Atkins (story here)
WR Geronimo Allison (story here)
C Russell Bodine (story here)

Arizona Cardinals

OL Marcus Gilbert (higher risk opt-out)

Baltimore Ravens

OT Andre Smith
WR De’Anthony Thomas

Buffalo Bills

DT Star Lotulelei
CB E.J. Gaines

Carolina Panthers

LB Jordan Mack
LB Christian Miller (higher risk opt-out)

Chicago Bears

DT Eddie Goldman
S Jordan Lucas

Cincinnati Bengals

DT Josh Tupou
OT Isaiah Prince

Cleveland Browns

G Drew Forbes
T Drake Dorbeck
DT Andrew Billings
OL Colby Gossett (higher risk opt-out)
G Malcolm Pridgeon

Dallas Cowboys

WR Stephen Guidry
CB Maurice Canady
FB Jamize Olawale

Denver Broncos

DT Kyle Peko
RT Ja’Wuan James

Green Bay Packers

WR Devin Funchess

Houston Texans

DL Eddie Vanderdoes

Indianapolis Colts

LB Skai Moore,
DB Rolan Milligan
DB Marvell Tell

Jacksonville Jaguars

DT Al Woods
EDGE Lerentee McCray
CB Rashaan Melvin

Kansas City Chiefs

G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
RB Damien Williams
OT Lucas Niang

Las Vegas Raiders

DE Jeremiah Valoaga
DB D.J. Killings
LB Ukeme Eligwe

Los Angeles Rams

OT Chandler Brewer (higher risk opt-out)

Miami Dolphins

WR Allen Hurns
WR Albert Wilson

Minnesota Vikings

DT Michael Pierce (Higher risk opt-out)

New England Patriots

RB Brandon Bolden
LB Dont’a Hightower
FB Danny Vitale
OT Marcus Cannon (Higher risk opt-out)
G Najee Toran
S Patrick Chung
TE Matt LaCosse
WR Marqise Lee

New Orleans Saints

TE Cole Wick
TE Jason Vander Laan

New York Giants

OT Nate Solder
WR Da’Mari Scott
CB Sam Beal

New York Jets

C Leo Koloamatangi
LB C.J. Mosley
WR Josh Doctson

Philadelphia Eagles

WR Marquise Goodwin

San Francisco 49ers

WR Travis Benjamin
OL Shon Coleman

Seattle Seahawks

G Chance Warmack

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

OT Brad Seaton

Tennessee Titans

OL Anthony McKinney

Washington Football Team

DL Caleb Brantley (Higher risk opt-out)
LB Josh Harvey-Clemons

FREE AGENT:

G Larry Warford

Updates:

To be considered a higher risk opt-out candidate, according to NFL.com:

a player must have a diagnosis reflected in their medical records of at least one of the following factors, which are based upon a modified list of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) risk factors list: cancer; chronic kidney disease; COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease); immunocompromised state from solid organ transplant; serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies; sickle cell disease; type 2 diabetes mellitus; asthma; cerebrovascular disease; cystic fibrosis; hypertension or high blood pressure; immunocompromised state from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines; neurologic conditions, such as dementia; liver disease; or pulmonary fibrosis.

Such higher risk opt-outs will also “receive an accrued season toward free agency and all benefits and minimum salary credit for a credited season.”