Dez Bryant reacts to Nico Iamaleava negotiation, proposes solution

All eyes are on Tennessee as Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava renegotiates his NIL deal with the program. On Friday, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant weighed in on the tense situation unfolding in Knoxville.

“I want to see the kids get paid, but this is getting ridiculous,” Bryant wrote on X. “I would make it an incentive-based contract for many of these college kids; the contract wouldn’t be guaranteed because the kids are showing they are not committed.”

Iamaleava is reportedly making around $2.25 to $2.5 million per year on his current NIL deal, which he signed as a freshman. However, after a standout 2024 campaign as the Volunteers’ full-time starter, Iamaleava and his agent are seeking a deal worth $4 million a year, per ESPN’s Chris Low.

Moreover, Iamaleava is willing to hold out until Tennessee can come to an agreement. He didn’t attend the Volunteers’ spring practice on Friday and isn’t expected to be at the Volunteers’ spring game on Saturday unless a deal is reached.

As a redshirt freshman last season, Iamaleava was Tennessee’s full-time starter. He finished the year with 2,616 passing yards and 19 touchdowns while throwing five interceptions. He also recorded 358 yards and three scores in the ground game.

Nico Iamaleava led the Volunteers to their College Football Playoff appearance in program history. It was also the first year CFP expanded to include 12 teams. Tennessee ultimately lost to eventual national championship Ohio State in the first round of the CFP.

Bryant is far from the first NFL player or former NFL player to weigh in on the hot-button issue. Earlier on Friday, Tennessee alumni Eric Berry and Da’Rick Rogers each criticized Iamaleava for his actions. During an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show, Chris Low provided further insight into the negotiations between Iamaleava and Tennessee.

“From the best I can tell, the quarterbacks coach and OC Joey Halzle met at his house and they had dinner. Nico was there. After that, there was not really any contact with him from anybody that I’ve talked to,” Low said.

“And then he didn’t show up for practice this morning. Tennessee practices in the morning. It was a surprise to his coaches, to his teammates, nobody heard he wasn’t coming. He just didn’t show up. And I don’t know that they’ve talked to him (since), unless something’s happened in the last hour or so.”