Contract negotiations in the NFL are a game of chess—except sometimes, instead of waiting for their turn, players just flip the board and make their move loud and clear. That’s what we’re seeing across the league right now. With Maxx Crosby securing a massive payday from the Raiders, other pass rushers seem to be suddenly realizing their pockets feel a little too light. And when that happens, subtlety goes out the window.
John Franklin-Myers decided he wasn’t going to sit back and hope the Broncos remembered he exists. He took a more direct approach. The 28-year-old was traded to Denver by the Jets last year for a 2026 sixth-round pick. JFM signed a 2-year, $15 million deal with the Broncos. The DE has one year left on his contract but is openly asking for an extension from the team.
The Jets had signed a four-year extension with Myers in 2021 that cost them $55 million. But they traded him after only two seasons, as they got Haason Reddick in a trade with Philly. After bringing in Haason, they allowed the DE to explore trade options for himself. And the Broncos, without any hesitation, were ready to welcome Franklin-Myers to their camp with open arms. The DE ended the 2024 season recording seven sacks and 40 tackles.
It all started when ESPN insider Adam Schefter posted a list of pass rushers due for an extension. Broncos reporter Zac Stevens mentioned Nik Bonitto. Franklin-Myers jumped right into the conversation, commenting, “Or JFM.” Indeed, a not-so-subtle message for the front office to sit down and talk about the extension. And why not? Just days back, he got quite a boost to step up.
Don’t forget Nik Bonitto. https://t.co/1J2v5io63w
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) March 5, 2025
In January, Pro Football Focus named Myers the Broncos’ ‘Secret Superstar’ of the year! “You could probably make a list of 10 underrated players based only on Denver’s defense, and Franklin-Myers might be the best-kept secret. After being traded from the Jets to the Broncos, Franklin-Myers was a force yet again, racking up 53 pressures, 23 stops and a team-high 17.8% pass-rush win rate. He has now reached the 50-pressure threshold in five straight years, becoming one of just four players to accomplish that,” PFF’s Bradley Locker wrote.
It would be interesting to find where things head from here, but the Broncos are not the only franchise delaying contract extensions – other teams are in the mix too. The Cowboys and Bengals players this offseason are struggling with the same. They might be regretting the wait now, too. Thanks to the Raiders waking up pass rushers across the league to push the front office for their big money extensions.
Maxx Crosby secures a massive payday
Maxx Crosby posted his career-low this season with only 28 solo tackles and 7.5 sacks (tied 36th) in 12 games. But the Raider know his worth. And that is why, with the latest contract extension, Crosby is now the highest-paid non-QB in the league. The 27-year-old has signed a 3-year $106.5 million extension. The DE will pocket $91 million in guaranteed money. “I envision Maxx being a Raider for a long time. And I think that’s what he wants, too,” said Raiders GM John Spytek.
“It’s one thing to be the face of a franchise,” Crosby said. “But I want to be a winner,” said the DE after the extension, calling it an “absolute blessing” to be a part of the Raiders. Crosby also expressed his excitement about playing under new HC Pete Carroll’s mentorship. “I am extremely excited and motivated. I have been here for seven years, and it has been a blessing… A lot of people in this building have helped me. I am about to be five years sober in a week, and without that, I wouldn’t be here.“
The latest deal has locked Maxx with the Raiders until 2030. The DE has played six seasons with the Raiders and will likely play another six if everything goes well. “I told him last night, ‘This isn’t for what you’ve done. This is for what you’re about to do. He’s about chasing championships, and so are we. That’s why we’re excited to start,” said Spytek.
Coach Pete talked about how Crosby is “focused, directed, and committed to giving everything he’s got.” The HC shared, “I’m so proud to have Maxx be part of the organization. He knows this is just the start, and all the rest comes after it—the hard work, the dedication, and the pursuit that makes this thing really special.” All in all, it’s a win-win for Maxx and a heads-up for other franchises to lock in their pass rushers.
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