The NFL talks tough about loyalty, but when it comes to early extensions, locking up a player with two (or more) years left, most teams keep their hands in their pockets. It’s rare. Risky. And in a league built on ‘what have you done lately? Windows shrink fast. Only 20 clubs have pulled the trigger at least once. Six teams have tried it twice, twelve have done it once. The Eagles sit in their own tier with five such bets. The Ravens aren’t far behind if you include a pair of one-year-early deals alongside two true two-year-out strikes.

Why the hesitation? Start with the cap. It’s a moving target, $255.4 million in 2024, up to $279.2 million in 2025, and a mistimed commitment can turn into dead money shrapnel. The Rams ate $20.15 million when Todd Gurley ’s knees gave out an

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