Full list of NFL players opting out of the 2020 season
By John Buhler
Who all has opted out of the 2020 NFL season and will not play this year?
The 4:00 p.m. ET deadline to opt out of the 2020 NFL season has come and gone.
Players had until late afternoon on Thursday, Aug. 6 to decide if they were going to play in the upcoming 2020 season. While some players announced their intentions days in advance, others waited until the last possible moment to make the best decision for them and their families. Football is a collision sport, so the fear of contracting the virus in close contact is understandable.
Per the NFL CBA, players who are deemed high risk can collect $350,000 for not playing this season, while others who opted out for other reasons can earn $150,000 this fall. Again, everyone has to make the decision that is best for them and their families. Obviously, these were not easy choices to makes so we must respect what the following players decided to do this year.
Here is the list of every player who has opted out of the 2020 NFL season.
- Arizona Cardinals: OT Marcus Gilbert
- Baltimore Ravens: KR De’Anthony Thomas, OL Andre Smith
- Buffalo Bills: DT Star Lotulelei, CB E.J. Gaines
- Carolina Panthers: LB Jordan Mack, LB Christian Miller
- Chicago Bears: DT Eddie Goldman, S Jordan Lucas
- Cleveland Browns: OT Drake Dorbeck, OG Drew Forbes, DT Andrew Billings, OG Colby Gossett, OG Malcolm Pridgeton
- Dallas Cowboys: CB Maurice Canady, WR Stephen Guidry, FB Jamize Olawale
- Denver Broncos: DT Kyle Peko, OT Ja’Wuan James
- Detroit Lions: DL John Atkins, WR Geronimo Allison, C Russell Bodine
- Green Bay Packers: WR Devin Funchess
- Houston Texans: DT Eddie Vanderdoes
- Indianapolis Colts: LB Skai Moore, CB Marvell Tell, S Rolan Milligan
- Jacksonville Jaguars: DT Al Woods, DE/LB Lerentee McCray, CB Rashaan Melvin
- Kansas City Chiefs: OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, RB Damien Williams, OT Lucas Niang
- Las Vegas Raiders: DE Jeremiah Valoaga, DB D.J. Killings, LB Ukeme Eligwe
- Los Angeles Rams: OT Chandler Brewer
- Miami Dolphins: WR Allen Hurns, WR Albert Wilson
- Minnesota Vikings: DT Michael Pierce
- New England Patriots: LB Dont’a Hightower, FB Dan Vitale, RB Brandon Bolden, OL Najee Toran, OL Marcus Cannon, S Patrick Chung, WR Marqise Lee, TE Matt LaCosse
- New Orleans Saints: TE Cole Wick, TE Jason Vander Laan
- New York Giants: OT Nate Solder, WR Da’Mari Scott, CB Sam Beal
- New York Jets: OL Leo Koloamatangi, LB CJ Mosley, WR Josh Doctson
- Philadelphia Eagles: WR Marquise Goodwin
- San Francisco 49ers: WR Travis Benjamin, OT Shon Coleman
- Seattle Seahawks: OL Chance Warmack
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OT Brad Seaton
- Tennessee Titans: OL Anthony McKinney
- Washington Football Team: DE Caleb Brantley, LB Josh Harvey-Clemons
In total, there were 64 players who decided to opt out this season and not play this year. 28 of the league’s 32 franchises had at least one player opt out of the campaign. The only teams to not have at least one player opt out were the Atlanta Falcons, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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The New England Patriots were hit the hardest with eight players opting out, including linebacker Dont’a Hightower, offensive lineman Marcus Cannon and safety Patrick Chung. The only other team with five or more players opting out was the Cleveland Browns with five. On average, every team had two guys decide playing football in the midst of a global pandemic wasn’t for them.
Look for the teams who lost players to opt-outs to find someone else to take their place in 2020.