Tuesday was payday in the NFL, as three first-round picks from the 2023 draft cashed in on record-breaking contract extensions.
For those unfamiliar, drafted players become eligible for contract extensions after their third season, making this offseason a pivotal one for members of the 2023 draft class. We’ve already seen a variety of negotiation tactics play out, with Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez limiting his participation during minicamp before reporting as a full participant this summer. Others in Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, meanwhile, have been hold-ins to begin their teams’ training camps, a strategy that certainly paid off for Robinson, who landed a record-setting extension alongside fellow 2023 first-rounders Zay Flowers of the Ravens and Darnell Wright of the Bears.
