Trade request all around NFL as pre-season starts

With NFL training camps underway and the pre-season starting, there were multiple contract disputes that teams needed to handle, as players have holdouts from camp.

The most notable ones that have gained tons of attention were the defensive ends for contenders.

Trey Hendrickson was the first one, as the 2024 sack leader wanted to be paid after the Bengals handed out big contracts to wide receiver Jamar Chase. This one would hurt not to pay as the Bengals ranked 25th in points per game allowed, as they gave up 25.5 PPG in 2024. After rejecting a contract from the Bengals, Hendrickson requested to be traded from the Bengals. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on July 29th that Hendrickson would report to Bengals camp, as that would stop the 50K fine he would receive for missing camp. He then told the media about the negotiations, "Things are exactly the same."

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin would be a huge part of the Commanders team that broke out and brought the team to the NFC Championship. McLaurin was looking for a new contract as a key piece, as he achieved five straight 1,000-yard seasons. He has proven himself as one of the best wide receivers in the game. McLaurin is looking to be paid like one. After holding out of training camp and not being able to negotiate a desirable contract, McLaurin asked to be traded.

The last big one, which came recently, was Micah Parsons. The former defensive rookie of the year and multiple All-Pro defensive end has 52 career sacks in 4 years in his career and is looking to get paid a hefty contract. With Dak Prescott getting paid 60 million per year as the highest-paid player in the NFL, Micah was looking to get equal compensation, but with cap space, it's looking to be complicated. Jerry Jones, when talking to the media over the 6 months before the trade request, was saying that he would look for a number that would be comfortable for him. While not the best answer, Parsons was hopeful to get a contract done before camp started, and they weren't able to come to an agreement. On August first, Micah requested a trade via a statement on Twitter/X, and in that statement, he said that the Cowboys never had a conversation with his agent, and he would submit his request personally to Stephen Jones, the co-owner of the Cowboys. A few days later, on August 5th, Jerry Jones told the media that he hasn't heard from Parsons and that it was unlikely for him to play in Week 1 of the NFL season.

All these trade requests around football just show how differently owners and players see their value. While a lot of fans see these as millionaires vs. billionaires, the players are sacrificing their bodies every week, to pay them while the owners are just making deals without doing that. It shows the disconnect between both sides. These 3 players are valuable to their team, and trading them would hurt their chances at the playoffs or a division title. Hendrickson being traded would make a bad defense even worse. The Cowboys' DL would be hurt, as no Lawrence and Parsons would leave the Cowboys with no pass rush. While the Commanders without McLaurin will still be a contender, they will have fewer weapons for Jayden Daniels in an NFC that is dominated by offense.