Per ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the league has set a deadline for players who want to opt out. That deadline will take place in three more days and will occur on Thursday, August 6 at 4 P.M. EST.
Now official: Deadline for NFL players to opt out is Thursday at 4 pm EST, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 3, 2020
This news comes after the NFL Players Association and NFL made adjustments to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement due to the coronavirus pandemic. With players having concerns for their health, both sides came to the agreement to give players the decision to sit out the season, but it appears we now know there is a window to make a decision.
There are currently two options for those who want to opt out. Under a voluntary opt out, players will receive a $150,000 salary advance, however, they won’t accrue a season, which basically means the timeline on their contract will remain the same when they return on 2021. However, under a high risk opt out, players will receive a $350,000 stipend with no offset and will accrue a season.
The Jacksonville Jacksonville Jaguars currently have two players who’ve decided to opt out. Those two players are defensive end and linebacker Lerentee McCray and nose tackle Al Woods. McCray has been with the Jags since 2017, while Woods just joined them this Spring. Both players mentioned returning next season so it appears they may have went with the voluntary opt out options, though it hasn’t been officially reported.