Three-time Pro Bowler Larry Warford opting out of 2020 NFL season to start a family

Free agent offensive guard Larry Warford, a three-time Pro Bowler, has opted out of the 2020 NFL season as he looks to start a family.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared this breaking news on Monday. He noted that Warford has received multiple offers and will continue to train as he revisits playing in 2021.

Three-time Pro-Bowl guard, Larry Warford, who has received multiple offers, is opting out of the 2020 season, per source. Warford is looking to start a family and will continue to train and revisit playing in 2021.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2020

Warford, 29, is a former third-round pick out of Kentucky. He has started 101 games since the 2013 campaign, playing four seasons with the New Orleans Saints and three more with the Detroit Lions.

List of NFL players opting out of 2020 NFL season

There are two categories of players who can opt out of the 2020 NFL season. There are voluntary opt-outs, which is what Warford qualifies for. They will take home $150,000 this year. Then there are high-risk opt-outs, who qualify to take home $350,000 in 2020.

Here’s a look at the current list of voluntary opt-outs, per NFL.com:

• Baltimore Ravens: KR De’Anthony Thomas, OL Andre Smith
• Buffalo Bills: DT Star Lotulelei
• Dallas Cowboys: CB Maurice Canady, WR Stephen Guidry
• Houston Texans: DT Eddie Vanderdoes
• Kansas City Chiefs: OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
• New England Patriots: LB Dont’a Hightower, FB Dan Vitale, RB Brandon Bolden, OL Najee Toran
• New Orleans Saints: TE Cole Wick
• Seattle Seahawks: OL Chance Warmack
• Tennessee Titans: OL Anthony McKinney

Here are the high-risk opt-outs:

• Minnesota Vikings: DT Michael Pierce
• New England Patriots: OL Marcus Cannon
• Washington Football Team: DE Caleb Brantley

There is a third group at this time, which includes players who have unspecified opt-outs:

• Chicago Bears: DT Eddie Goldman
• Denver Broncos: DT Kyle Peko
• New England Patriots: S Patrick Chung
• New York Jets: OL Leo Koloamatangi
• Philadelphia Eagles: WR Marquise Goodwin

At this time, the adjusted CBA negotiated between the NFL and NFLPA is still not officially done. So the deadline for players opting out of the 2020 NFL season will be seven days after that is completed.

Dozens of players have informed teams they're opting out, but NFL and NFLPA lawyers are still working on the CBA side letter that will allow it, per sources.

The deadline for players to opt out is 7 days after the letter is finalized, so that would now be Aug. 4 at the soonest.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 28, 2020

We’re sure to see many more players opting out before that deadline arrives.