• Loading stock data...
Friday, October 31, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

30 of 32 NFL Second-Round Draft Picks Remain Unsigned

Some rookies have to report to training camp in under two weeks, but nearly all second-rounders are still holding out.

Jun 10, 2025; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins (81) participates in a drill during an NFL football minicamp at NRG Stadium.
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

The NFL is less than two weeks away from the first day rookies report to training camp for some teams, yet 30 of the 32 players selected in the second round of the draft haven’t signed a contract.

It’s not that these players don’t want a spot on the team—they’ve participated in offseason events with their new squads. But they’re holding out on putting pen to paper after two second-rounders signed fully guaranteed contracts in May.

Jayden Higgins signed with the Texans the first fully guaranteed contract for a second-round pick in NFL history on May 8. He was the second player taken in the second round. The next day, Carson Schwesinger, who preceded Higgins in the draft by one spot, signed a fully guaranteed deal with the Browns.

Historically, first-round picks sign fully guaranteed contracts, which means teams will be on the hook to pay athletes if they cut them for talent, injury, or cap space. But Higgins and Schwesinger changed the script, and not a single second-rounder has signed since their early May announcements.

The group is each day inching closer to training camp, particularly the earlier arrival date for rookies. Reporting dates vary by teams, but the soonest one for rookies is July 12 for the Chargers. That puts the most pressure on wide receiver Tre Harris, drafted by Los Angeles out of Ole Miss at No. 55 overall, although his team does have a habit of signing second-rounders well into June. The latest date for rookies is July 23, when all Falcons and Steelers regardless of service will report.

Across sports, there’s usually little to no negotiating that goes on with rookie contracts, which are laid out based on draft selection in collective bargaining agreements. The NFL has had a rookie wage scale since 2011. But each year, the NFL sees holdouts and hold-ins—veterans who choose not to report to training camp or sit out on football activities to put pressure on contract negotiations. If the second-rounders continue their stalemate into training camp, they would set a new precedent for holdouts and hold-ins.

NFL teams don’t necessarily shell out on second-rounders. Higgins and Schwesinger signed four-year contracts worth $11.7 million and $11.8 million, respectively, and they’ll be the highest-paid in the group. By comparison, No. 1 overall Cam Ward’s four-year rookie deal pays $48.8 million.

Some reports have pointed a finger at Saints 40th overall pick Tyler Shough, who is competing for a starting spot in New Orleans after Derek Carr announced his unexpected retirement in May. Shough’s camp is specifically focused on guaranteeing the fourth-year salary, according to CBS Sports.

“The whole second round, [we’re] just seeing kind of where things lie,” Shough told The Times-Picayune last week. “I want to fight for as much as we can get, but at the same time, there’s a lot of things that have yet to unfold with other guys ahead [of me].”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game four of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium.

Shohei Ohtani Card Market Is Surging—With No Signs of Slowing

Cards have spiked hundreds of thousands of dollars from their initial value.
Dec 10, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) talks with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

CBS Bets Big on Chiefs-Bills Rivalry As AFC Landscape Changes

Big viewership likely awaits the revival of the NFL rivalry.

NBA Season Opens With Best Ratings in 8 Years Despite Off-Court Scandals

It’s the first year of the NBA’s 11-year, $77 billion media deal.

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
Aug 24, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Seattle Storm center Dominique Malonga (14) celebrates with Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins (4) during the second half against the Washington Mystics at CareFirst Arena.

Dominique Malonga Headlines Unrivaled’s Final Player Announcements

Aari McDonald and Rebecca Allen are also joining Unrivaled.
Terry Rozier
October 29, 2025

NBA Union Says It Will Fight Decision to Withhold Rozier’s Pay

Rozier has one year and $26.3 million left on his contract.
Sep 13, 2025; Tokyo, Japan; World Athletics president Sebastian Coe at the World Athletics Championships opening ceremonies at National Stadium.
October 30, 2025

World Athletics Finds $1.7 Million Stolen by Employees

It will use the “full force of the law” to recuperate losses.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

TNT Sports is going all-in on college athletics—bringing fans closer and giving brands a powerful new way to connect.
October 28, 2025

WNBA Proposes 30-Day Extension on CBA Negotiations

The CBA expires Oct. 31; a deal is not expected by then.
Oct 24, 2025; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) looks on against Nashville SC during the first half at Chase Stadium.
October 28, 2025

Lionel Messi: MLS Can’t Grow Without More Spending Power

The Inter Miami star recently signed a contract extension through 2028.
Napheesa Collier
October 28, 2025

WNBA, Players Remain Far Apart With CBA Deadline Days Away 

A union lawyer says a deal will not be reached by Friday.
Alexis Ohanian
October 28, 2025

Alexis Ohanian: Angel City Ownership Setup Was a ‘Terrible Idea’

He admits that the NWSL club’s governance was a disaster.