NFL Draft: Second-Round Rookie Deals Delayed – Why?
- NFL Draft picks typically sign contracts quickly due to the rookie wage scale established in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement.However, this year, second-round picks are experiencing unusual delays...
- Of the 257 players drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft, 221 have signed.
- Thirty of the 36 unsigned draftees are from the second round.
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NFL Draft: Second-Round Signings Stall Amid Contract Dispute
Updated June 19, 2025
NFL Draft picks typically sign contracts quickly due to the rookie wage scale established in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement.However, this year, second-round picks are experiencing unusual delays in signing their rookie deals. The NFL Draft adn NFL collective bargaining agreement dictate salary parameters, leaving little room for negotiation.
Of the 257 players drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft, 221 have signed. Only a few first-round picks remain unsigned, including Travis Hunter of the Jacksonville Jaguars. A contract dispute between the Cincinnati Bengals and Shemar Stewart is also ongoing. Though, the most notable issue is the slow pace of second-round signings.
Thirty of the 36 unsigned draftees are from the second round. The last time so few players were signed this late was in 2020,during the COVID-19 pandemic,when in-person offseason programs were limited. Last year, Ladd McConkey signed his contract with the Los Angeles Chargers by June 17.
The Houston Texans started a trend this year by giving Jayden Higgins a fully guaranteed contract. The Cleveland Browns followed suit with Carson Schwesinger.Keon Coleman received 80% guaranteed compensation in his fourth year with the Buffalo Bills, an increase from Joey Porter Jr.’s 70% guarantee in 2023 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The second-round signings have stalled due to Tyler Shough’s contract demands. Shough, selected by the New Orleans Saints, is reportedly seeking a fully guaranteed contract, anticipating a starting role due to Derek Carr’s recent retirement.
Braden Fiske of the Los Angeles Rams,the seventh pick in the 2024 second round,had only $50,000 guaranteed in his fourth year. quarterbacks ofen receive unique contract structures. In 2024, all first-round quarterbacks received their signing bonuses in a lump sum. Jalen milroe and Dillon Gabriel are the only third-round picks with minimum base salaries and training camp roster bonuses in the final three years of their contracts.
Agents representing players drafted after Shough are monitoring the situation. The NFLPA keeps agents informed of developments that could impact their clients.similar coordination among NFL teams is considered collusion and is prohibited.
What’s next
If Shough secures a fully guaranteed contract, it could set a new precedent for future NFL Draft picks, notably in the second round, potentially leading to increased demands for guaranteed money.
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