Second Round Signing Tracker

Of the 32 players selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 25 have signed their first professional contract. The higher a player is selected in the draft the more difficult they are to sign. Even with the scripted rookie salary structure of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, that is supposed to be the case. In recent years, the second round has become the problematic round when it comes to getting players signed. This year might be the worst. Here’s the signing progress of the players selected in the second round.

33. Cleveland Browns: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA - Signed

34. Houston Texans: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State - Signed

35. Seattle Seahawks: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

36. Cleveland Browns: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

37. Miami Dolphins: Jonah Savaiinea, G, Arizona

38. New England Patriots: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

39. Chicago Bears: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

40. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville

41. Buffalo Bills: T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina

42. New York Jets: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

43. San Francisco 49ers: Alfred Collins, DT, Texas

44. Dallas Cowboys: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College

45. Indianapolis Colts: JT Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State

46. Los Angeles Rams: Terrence Ferguson, TE, Oregon

47. Arizona Cardinals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

48. Houston Texans: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota

49. Cincinnati Bengals: Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina

50. Seattle Seahawks: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami

51. Carolina Panthers: Nic Scourton, LB, Texas A&M

52. Tennessee Titans: Oluwafemi Oladejo, Edge, UCLA

53. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

54. Green Bay Packers: Anthony Belton, OT, North Carolina State

55. Los Angeles Chargers: Tre Harris, WR, Mississippi 

56. Chicago Bears: Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College

57. Detroit Lions: Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia

58. Las Vegas Raiders: Jack Bech, WR, TCU

59. Baltimore Ravens: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall

60. Denver Broncos: RJ Harvey, RB, UCF

61. Washington Commanders: Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi

62. Chicago Bears: Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M 

63. Kansas City Chiefs: Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee

64. Philadelphia Eagles: Anthony Mukuba, S, Texas

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It’s been more than a month since the completion of the draft and only two second-round picks have signed their contracts. 25 of the 32 first round picks have signed. Two second round picks!

From Pick #1 to Pick #Mr. Irrelevant, the contracts for each draft slot are scripted by the CBA. The only negotiations that take place are how the money is paid and how much is guaranteed. For years, only the special players selected in the first round received fully guaranteed contracts. In recent years, agents for players selected in the second round have been trying to get more of their contracts guaranteed. Why should the player selected at #32 have all of his contract guaranteed and the player selected at #33 not get those same benefits? That’s what the agents have been asking? 

Only two players selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft have signed. Guess what? The agents for Carson Schwesinger and Jayden Higgins got their clients fully guaranteed contracts. In caving to those demands, the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans have set a precedent for all of the teams behind them. After caving for Schwesinger at #33, I’m a little surprised the Browns didn’t cave for Quinshon Judkins at #36. Are the Browns drawing a line somewhere between picks #33 and #36? Who knows with the wacky Browns? Anyway, I think it’s hilarious that the Chicago Bears have to deal with second-round negotiations for three players. 

With the current state of second-round negotiations, I’m glad that the Minnesota Vikings have traded away their second-round picks in each of the last three seasons.