Analysis on the 2020 NFL opt-outs

The list of players sitting out this season continues to grow. Almost every team is represented as a significant 42 individuals have chosen to opt-out of the 2020 NFL season thus far. Below are the names and teams of declared athletes, as well as some insights learned from the list as it comes together.

The deadline for decision making is now August 8.

Baltimore Ravens: KR De’Anthony Thomas, OL Andre Smith

Buffalo Bills: DT Star Lotulelei, CB E.J. Gaines

Carolina Panthers: LB Jordan Mack

Chicago Bears: DT Eddie Goldman

Cincinnati Bengals: DT Josh Tupou, OT Isaiah Prince

Cleveland Browns: G Drew Forbes, T Drake Dorbeck

Dallas Cowboys: CB Maurice Canady, WR Stephen Guidry, FB Jamize Olawale

Denver Broncos: DT Kyle Peko

Detroit Lions: DT John Atkins, WR Geronimo Allison

Green Bay Packers: WR Devin Funchess

Houston Texans: DT Eddie Vanderdoes

Jacksonville Jaguars: EDGE Lerentee McCray, DT Al Woods

Kansas City Chiefs: OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, RB Damien Williams

Los Angeles Rams: OT Chandler Brewer

Minnesota Vikings: DT Michael Pierce

New England Patriots: LB Dont’a Hightower, FB Dan Vitale, RB Brandon Bolden, OL Najee Toran, WR Marqise Lee, OL Marcus Cannon, S Patrick Chung, TE Matt LaCosse

New Orleans Saints: TE Jason Vander Laan, TE Cole Wick

New York Giants: OL Nate Solder, WR Da’Mari Scott

New York Jets: OL Leo Koloamatangi, LB C.J. Mosley

Philadelphia Eagles: WR Marquise Goodwin

Seattle Seahawks: OL Chance Warmack

Tennessee Titans: OL Anthony McKinney

Washington Football Team: DE Caleb Brantley

Positional Breakdown

Linemen: 22

Wide Receivers: 5 (plus De’Anthony Thomas)

Linebackers: 3

Tight Ends: 3

Running Back / Fullback: 4

Defensive Backs: 3

Like we noted last week, the bigger athletes are the ones opting out at a greater rate, presumably because of greater risk.

Offense: 26

Defense: 16

Team Breakdown

Total teams with at least one player opting out: 23

AFC
North: 6
South: 4
East: 12
West: 3

NFC
North: 5
South: 3
East: 7
West: 2

Pro Bowl Athletes opting out after conniving their team into offering an undeserved market-setting contract and following the trade of their team’s best defensive player:

That would just be CJ Mosley, unless I’m mistaken.

However, Dont’a Hightower is also a Pro Bowl linebacker, and the list so far proves that players across the talent spectrum are taking this decision quite serious.

This is all without mentioning the astonishingly big COVID-19 / Reserve list that indicates a player who has or has closely contacted someone positive with the virus.

To date, the Seahawks still have only Chance Warmack sitting the year out, and neither the 49ers nor Cardinals have lost anyone yet.

At least one Field Gulls writer has been entertaining the possibility that all the Seattle running backs will opt out, forcing Russell Wilson to be the cook we know he can be.

There are a few days yet for that glorious future to come true.