Michael Smith
The National Football League had its deadline for players to opt out for the 2020 season due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday, August 6. Sixty-six players took advantage of the opportunity to skip the season while earning $350,000 (if high-risk) or $150,000 (other than high-risk) from their future contractual earnings and gaining a year of service, and while some of the players were not front-line starters, there are quite a few players who won’t be taking the field in 2020 despite the fact that their teams lean heavily on them.
The Most Important Players Opting Out for 2020
C.J. Mosley (N.Y. Jets)
The Jets only got two games out of Mosley in 2019, as he missed most of the season because of a groin injury. He had gone to the Pro Bowl four times in five years with the Baltimore Ravens. During those five years, he had played in 77 of the team’s 80 regular-season games. Mosley’s opt-out came a week after the Jets had shipped Jamal Adams to Seattle, which means two of their top players on defense won’t be there in Week 1.
Nate Solder (N.Y. Giants)
Quarterback Daniel Jones will not have Nate Solder protecting his blind side, as the Giants’ left tackle will opt out for 2020. Solder has dealt with cancer himself, and his son has also fought the disease — and the family added a newborn in the spring. The Giants had shown some progress in the latter part of 2019, as Jones and Saquon Barkley were able to move the ball, but not having their starting left tackle will make things dicey for the New York offense.
Dont’a Hightower (New England)
Hightower is just the biggest name among the Patriots’ holdouts. Tailback Brandon Bolden, fullback Danny Vitale, starting offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, and safety Patrick Chung are also sitting out 2020. Hightower is a first-time father as of this summer, so despite being a team captain — and getting the nickname “Mr. February” for his huge contributions in Super Bowls — he will be at home. The Patriots had already lost linebackers Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy, which put even more of a burden on Hightower, but the Pats will have to find someone else to call the defensive signals in 2020.
Eddie Goldman (Chicago)
Nose tackle Eddie Goldman has been with the Bears for five seasons since coming to them via the draft from Florida State. He has started 63 games over five seasons and appeared in 67 overall. Over that time, he has posted 153 tackles, 12 ½ sacks and 17 tackles for loss. He was an alternate to last year’s Pro Bowl after posting 29 tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss. The Bears do have a lot of depth on their defensive line. They still have Akiem Hicks, Roy Robertson-Harris, Abdullah Anderson, Brent Urban, Bilal Nichols and free-agent signing John Jenkins who can all play on the D-line.
Star Lotulelei (Buffalo)
Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei was one of the first NFL players to take advantage of the opportunity to opt out for the 2020 season. Lotulelei had a heart condition that impacted his ability to take part in the 2013 NFL scouting combine, and he has four children. His absence should not impact the Bills too profoundly, as they already had Harrison Phillips, Vincent Taylor and Ed Oliver up front, and they added Quinton Jefferson and Vernon Butler via free agency.
