Rookie contracts for the NFL’s 2nd-rounders are rolling in

Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

The NFL’s second-round rookies are finally signing their contracts. Up until two nights ago, the only players in that round who had inked deals with the teams that selected them back in April were Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger and Houston Texans receiver Jayden Higgins, the first two picks of that round who were also the first second-rounders ever to sign fully guaranteed deals.

For about two months, the market had completely frozen, as the remaining 30 second-round picks remained

unsigned. Then the San Francisco 49ers gave Alfred Collins $8.3 million guaranteed on Wednesday night, which broke the floodgates. Since then, nine more second-rounders have signed contracts, leaving just 20 second-rounders unsigned — including the Green Bay Packers’ Anthony Belton.

According to reports, Nick Emmanwori, the player drafted just behind Schwesinger and Higgins, reportedly also received a fully-guaranteed deal from the Seattle Seahawks. How long these full guarantees will last, though, is up for debate. The fourth player selected in the second round this year is running back Quinshon Judkins, who was recently arrested for domestic violence. That certainly complicates matters regarding how much the Cleveland Browns want to guarantee.

The only other player who signed and has had his guarantees reported is 41st overall pick T.J. Sanders, a defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills. Per reports, he received $10 million in guarantees, about $1.7 million more than Collins, a player who is also a defensive tackle and was picked two spots behind him. Considering that Collins was initially reported to have guarantees north of $9 million, though, about a million more than he actually received, we should probably wait on the contract being filed with the league before writing that number in ink.

Here’s a look at second-round guarantees, comparing the 2024 and 2025 draft classes, so far. As you can see, Sanders receiving $10 million would be a big win, even relative to Collins.

Below is a table of the players who have or haven’t signed at the time of this article:

One thing that helps the Packers and Belton to get a deal done is that both Tre Harris and Ozzy Trapilo have already signed with the Los Angeles Chargers and Chicago Bears. Those two players were taken right after Belton. Previously, Harris participated in practice with the Chargers but had begun a holdout this week, as Los Angeles got an early jump on training camp due to their participation in the Hall of Fame Game.

Of the nine players who have signed since the Collins news was announced, six of them have come in the last ten picks in the second round. That should mean that the players picked later should probably sign quicker than earlier second-round picks. One reason for this is the quarterback position, which often moves guarantees in the rookie market. Tyler Shough, who was picked one spot ahead of Sanders, might end up getting a fully guaranteed deal from the New Orleans Saints, just due to the nature of the quarterback position. Because of that, the only players ahead of Shough who have signed with their teams so far have inked fully guaranteed deals.

For teams who picked second-rounders in that gap between Emmanwori and Shough, the wait might be a little longer, if they aren’t already committed to handing out a fully guaranteed deal.

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