In 2011, the NFL and NFL Players Association reached a new collective bargaining agreement. A significant part of that deal included a measure for rookie salaries, which capped how much players could earn on their first contracts in the league. Back in 2010, Sam Bradford’s six-year, $78 million deal made him the highest-paid player in NFL history, all without ever stepping onto the field, which definitely influenced the push for change from team owners.
Since then, rookie wages have been structured according to a slotting system, and penalties for holding out have risen sharply, leading to fewer contract disputes with rookies in the last ten years. But this year seems quite different.
The 2025 Round Pick Remains Unsigned Across the NFL
On May 8th, the Houston Texans secured a deal with second-round pick Jaden Higgins, fittingly tied to a standard four-year contract with the slotted compensation for the 34th overall pick. What’s interesting, though, is that this became the first fully guaranteed contract for a second-round player in NFL history, which was strictly reserved for first-round selections up until now.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns also had their second-round pick at slot 33, mirroring the earlier trend. Given that picks 32 and 34 signed fully guaranteed contracts, it made sense for them to do the same, leading them to ink a deal with Carson Swesinger the following day.
But that’s where things get complicated. Many other second-round picks remain unsigned as they negotiate for similar fully guaranteed contracts. The Seattle Seahawks and their pick, Nick Emanwy, are next in line, yet depending on whether players drafted later in the order secure fully guaranteed deals, we might see a significant shift in negotiations across the board.
For some perspective, last year’s 33rd overall pick, Keon Coleman from the Buffalo Bills, signed a four-year deal worth just over $10 million, with around $9.6 million fully guaranteed. It’s a curious situation, really; it means that he had nearly 96% of his deal guaranteed, with a mere difference of $433,753 compared to others in similar positions. On the flip side, Renardo Green, the 64th overall pick, had only about 52% of his contract guaranteed.
The Significance of Fully Guaranteed Money in NFL Contracts
Unlike contracts in other major sports, NFL deals aren’t fully guaranteed unless stated outright. Teams can negotiate down payments for their players in the first couple of years, potentially inflating the contracts, but they might not end up paying the full amount, which leads to uneven financial prospects for players.
Take Russell Wilson’s situation in Denver as an example. He received close to $38 million in 2024, despite not being part of the roster anymore after the Broncos cut him. He eventually signed with the Steelers, who only paid him $1.2 million.
The only way a team can escape their obligations for fully guaranteed money is if the player retires or violates league rules. Such offset clauses can lead to disputes during negotiations.
Shemar Stewart’s Holdout and the Issue of Offset Language
Currently, Shemar Stewart of the Cincinnati Bengals is in a contract standoff, but his situation differs because he’s not guaranteed the kind of money typically seen with second-round picks. As a first-round selection, his entire four-year contract is fully guaranteed, even with a fifth-year option for the team.
Instead, Stewart and the Bengals are at odds over offset language in his contract. This language can void future guaranteed money and could be influenced by various factors such as performance or weight, but more often than not, it’s a simple sticking point in negotiations.
Interestingly, the Bengals have previously not included offset language in contracts for their first-round picks, but they seem determined to change things with Stewart’s deal, which is why he and his representatives are firmly holding their ground.
As of now, there are still three first-round picks unsigned and about 30 second-round picks yet to finalize their contracts. The clock is ticking with three more rounds still in play.
