Overview

• Christopher Droney’s January ruling shows the NFL Management Council, with Commissioner Roger Goodell’s approval, urged teams at the March 2022 owners’ meeting to restrict guaranteed money in veteran contracts.
• While the league encouraged reduced guarantees, the arbitrator found that the NFLPA failed to prove teams joined a collusive agreement in violation of the collective bargaining agreement.
• In the aftermath of Deshaun Watson’s $230 million fully guaranteed deal, quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray all signed extensions without securing full guarantees.
• The NFLPA’s collusion complaint was dismissed in January 2025, and the June release of the 61-page decision has intensified scrutiny of the union’s strategy.
• Revealed text messages show then-NFLPA president JC Tretter called Russell Wilson a “wuss,” highlighting internal conflict over the handling of player contract negotiations.