New Second-Round Contract Guarantees Provide a Rare Win For NFL Players

National Football League New Second-Round Contract Guarantees Provide a Rare Win for NFL Players

Updated Jul. 21, 2025 5:36 p.m. ET

As the summer draws to a close, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) has faced a slew of negative headlines. However, the beginning of training camp has also ushered in a rare victory for NFL players, as they have successfully negotiated for better deals from their teams.

This win may be subtle, but it is significant. Most of this year’s second-round draft picks decided to hold off on signing their rookie contracts for over two months, waiting until just last week to finalise their deals. In doing so, they achieved greater guarantees regarding the fully guaranteed portions of these contracts.

For the past two collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) since 2011, NFL rookie contracts have had limited room for negotiation, with the total value mostly pre-determined. Each draft pick received slightly less than the one before. In terms of guarantees, all first-round picks received fully guaranteed deals, while those selected in the third round had no guarantees beyond their signing bonuses, leaving the second round somewhat in limbo. jili10.com

Prior to this year, no second-round pick had secured a fully guaranteed rookie contract, though some top second-round picks from last year came close, with up to 95% guaranteed. The Houston Texans set a new standard by offering the No. 34 pick, receiver Jayden Higgins, a fully guaranteed contract just two weeks after the draft www.rich711. This move effectively pressured the Cleveland Browns to follow suit with the No. 33 pick, linebacker Carson Schwesinger.

Following that precedent, other second-round picks opted to refrain from signing their contracts. No agent or player wanted to be the one to accept a lesser deal, leading to a summer without signing bonuses that could be as high as $5 million. Nonetheless, some agents provided short-term advances to their clients, knowing that contracts would eventually be completed.

Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger was part of the group that helped second-round picks secure fully guaranteed contracts in their rookie deals. Although they participated in off-season practices and meetings like other signed rookies, they chose to wait until mere days before training camp began before signing their deals, and NFL teams eventually conceded. Seven of the top eight picks in the round landed fully guaranteed contracts, with the last being New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, who was selected with the 40th overall pick. Last year’s No gcash apk download latest version. 40 pick, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean, had around 80% of his deal guaranteed, so Shough saw an increase of roughly $3.3 million in fully guaranteed money.

The only exception at the top of the second round was Browns running back Quinshon Judkins, whose circumstances diminished his leverage after his arrest in Florida on domestic violence and battery charges. While the rest of the second round didn’t get fully guaranteed deals, they did secure a higher percentage of guarantees than last year’s draftees, typically about 10% more.

Guaranteed money is a surprising area where players gained ground, as it usually matters only in the worst-case scenarios—like a draft pick performing poorly enough to be released before the end of their rookie contract. This situation is uncommon. For instance, among the 2021 draft class, only five players were released early, and four of those occurred during the fourth and final season.

To find a second-round pick cut before their third year, we need to go back to 2017 with Seahawks defensive tackle Malik McDowell, who never played a game for Seattle due to a non-football injury from a preseason ATV accident, along with arrests that would have voided guarantees under typical NFL contracts Ug777. The last instance of a second-rounder being cut early purely due to poor performance dates back to 2016 with Tennessee Titans defensive end Kevin Dodd, who was released after two seasons and never played again.

In reaction to guarantees in contracts, many NFL teams now push to include “offset language,” which means any money guaranteed to a player when cut is offset by earnings from another team. If a player is picked up off waivers, the new team assumes the remaining guaranteed money; if unclaimed, the original team is free from any contracts the player signs within the rookie contract timeframe. This ensures that teams only face financial impacts if a draft pick is released and not picked up again.

What’s next? Progress made this year in securing better guarantees for draft picks indicates they will pursue similar advancements in 2026. We may see at least half of the second round securing fully guaranteed contracts, or the possibility of those at the top of the third round aiming for partial guarantees, which were previously unavailable.

As NFL revenues—and consequently the salary cap—continue to rise, the bar for contract expectations resets based on what previous picks received. Therefore, any advancement, like increased guarantees, serves as a win that may carry forward into future seasons. If players remain with their teams, this won’t affect their careers directly. rg777 legit or not However, it could greatly benefit those who struggle to complete their rookie contracts.

Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports. He previously dedicated a decade to covering the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Times and The Athletic. Follow him on Twitter at @gregauman.

What are your thoughts on these recent changes in contract negotiations for NFL players?