10 NFL stars who must be extended this preseason

While some players fight for their role in the preseason, NFL stars like Odell Beckham Jr., Khalil Mack, and Aaron Donald have earned top-of-the-market contract extensions.

Week 1 of the NFL preseason brought excitement for fans and players alike, but the business side of front offices are nearing their deadlines to finish making the best team possible. Most agents agree to shut down contract extension negotiations when the preseason wraps up. As it currently stands, there’s a significant list of talent on track to become unrestricted free agents in 2019.

The majority of NFL players are fighting to either make a final 53-man roster, or battling to become a starter this year. Preseason is stressful for these players because their career is year-to-year and can drastically change with one injury or subpar performance.

The 10 players that have been identified for this article don’t fit into that majority. These are exceptional players who have already demonstrated they’re worthy of a long-term investment. They also happen to be entering a contract season, making now a perfect time for their respective teams to hammer out a deal.

Getting a deal done now can help save the team money long-term if the player is set to take on a bigger role. It also gives clarity for their cap sheet in regards to future planning. For the player, a competitive offer locks-in guaranteed money over the course of two-or-three years as a trade-off for taking a little less than what they could possibly see on the open market.

Some of these players are obvious, while others may not be. We’ll make the case for their extensions and what the total deal could look like, based on what comparable talent has earned in recent years.