As Organized Team Activities (OTAs) get underway around the NFL, there’s a growing subplot quietly stealing attention: a contract standoff brewing among second-round draft picks. While most rookies have taken the field and joined veterans for early workouts, a large majority of second-round selections—30 of 32 to be exact—have yet to sign their rookie contracts. The reason? A precedent-shifting move by the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns.
Fully Guaranteed Sparks the Fire
The contract impasse began when the Texans selected wide receiver Jaden Higgins with the 34th overall pick and handed him a fully guaranteed four-year contract—something unprecedented for a second-rounder. The Browns, who picked linebacker Carson Schlesinger one spot earlier at No. 33, followed suit with a fully guaranteed deal of their own.
Since then, contract negotiations have stalled for the rest of the second round, as agents and teams square off in a waiting game. With picks 33 and 34 now setting a new bar, the next pick—No. 35, held by the Seattle Seahawks—has become the focal point of the entire round.
All Eyes on Seattle
The Seahawks selected South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori at No. 35. Now, his camp is reportedly holding firm, pushing for a fully guaranteed deal like the two players taken just ahead of him. If Seattle agrees, it would likely force every team from pick 36 through 64 to follow suit—or face mounting pressure from agents and players.
This has led to a deadlock: teams want to avoid creating a costly precedent, and agents don’t want to be the ones who blink first and settle for less.
A History of Slotting—and Disruption
Under the current rookie wage scale—established in 2011—first-rounders have increasingly received fully guaranteed deals. By 2019-2020, it became standard. However, second-round contracts have typically hovered in the 85-90% guaranteed range.
This year marks a potential turning point. If Emmanwori and other early second-rounders secure full guarantees, it could fundamentally reshape the market for future drafts. What one player gets, the next expects to match or exceed. That’s the unwritten rule of contract negotiations.
The Agent Angle
Beyond player compensation, this is also a battle of prestige among agents. Securing a fully guaranteed deal can be a major marketing win when recruiting future clients. Many agents view these deals not just as victories for their clients, but as branding moments for themselves and their agencies.
What’s at Stake?
For now, most unsigned second-rounders are participating in team activities under standard injury waivers, which protect their slotted deals in case of catastrophic injury. But the longer this standoff continues, the greater the risk of delays spilling into training camp—and potentially even the preseason.
A unique situation exists in Cincinnati, where first-round pick Shamar Stewart isn’t participating at all due to a contract language dispute. Though most second-rounders are present and practicing, the ripple effect of the fully guaranteed deals has clearly disrupted the usual rhythm of rookie signings.
Predicting What’s Next
It’s likely that the impasse will break depending on what happens with Emmanwori and pick No. 36, Cleveland’s Quinshon Judkins. If Emmanwori secures a fully guaranteed deal, Judkins and the following picks may do the same.
This year’s developments are expected to lock in a new precedent: starting with the 2026 draft, picks 33 and 34 will almost certainly receive fully guaranteed deals, just like their first-round counterparts.
Whether that guarantee extends throughout the second round will be determined in the coming days—but for now, the league is in a rare, quiet standoff with high stakes for future rookies.
