Report: Brown, Samuel, McLaurin to skip on-field offseason programs
A trio of young receivers is looking to get paid.
Tennessee Titans' A.J. Brown, San Francisco 49ers' Deebo Samuel, and Washington Commanders' Terry McLaurin will skip their teams' on-field voluntary offseason programs as they seek new contract extensions, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
McLaurin will still report to Washington's program, which starts Monday, to participate in off-field activities, Schefter added. The Titans' program also starts Monday, while the 49ers will report Tuesday.
All three wideouts are entering the final year of their four-year rookie contract after being taken in the 2019 NFL Draft. Brown and Samuel have been subject to trade rumors this offseason, as has Seattle Seahawks star D.K. Metcalf, who's also entering the last year of his deal.
However, Metcalf is expected to participate in Seattle's workouts, according to the Seattle Times' Bob Condotta.
Brown, Samuel, and McLaurin are looking to take advantage of a wide receiver market that has exploded this offseason thanks to Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill.
Adams received a deal worth a then-league-high $28.25 million annually from the Las Vegas Raiders following a blockbuster trade from the Green Bay Packers in March.
Hill then pushed the top of the market even higher when the Kansas City Chiefs traded him to the Miami Dolphins a week later, and he immediately inked an extension worth $30 million.
Brown, Samuel, and McLaurin are among the best ascending young talents in the league.
The 24-year-old Brown produced two 1,000-yard seasons and 19 combined touchdowns to begin his career. He finished with 869 yards and five scores in 2021 after missing four games due to injury.
Brown fueled speculation about his future with the Titans after sharing a pair of cryptic tweets Monday. However, sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini that the two sides are still working toward a long-term extension.
I’m a diva and a bad teammate all of sudden, lol ok. Do what you have to do then and so will I
— AJ Brown (@1kalwaysopen_) April 18, 2022
They switch up quick 😮💨
— AJ Brown (@1kalwaysopen_) April 18, 2022
Samuel, 26, enjoyed a breakout season in 2021, showcasing his dual-threat skills by racking up 1,405 receiving yards (fifth-most in the league) and 365 yards with eight touchdowns on the ground.
Meanwhile, McLaurin had over 1,000 yards in 2021 and 2020 despite inconsistent quarterback play and a lack of other receiving options on the team.