Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey agreed to terms on a four-year contract on Thursday, ending the threat of a training camp holdout.
Harvey was among a host of second-round picks who were holding the line for more guaranteed money after wide receiver Jayden Higgins and linebacker Carson Schwesinger received fully guaranteed deals from the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns, respectively. Schwesinger and Higgins were the top two picks in the second round of April's draft.
Rookies who have not yet signed are not subject to fines because they're not under contract. So there's no financial punishment for not reporting to camp -- but it does increase the risk of falling behind in a position battle. The Broncos signed veteran J.K. Dobbins last month, and he is Harvey's biggest competition for touches.
Harvey has ended the threat of falling behind by agreeing to a four-year deal ahead of the start of training camp next week. Harvey's four-year contract is worth about $7.36 million and includes a $1,992,488 signing bonus. Before this offseason, second-round draft picks taken 60th overall received the first two years of their contracts guaranteed.
To get a deal done with Harvey, Denver agreed to guarantee 47.7 percent of his salary in his third season (2027), according to KUSA-TV's Mike Klis. Harvey didn't get a fully guaranteed deal like Higgins and Schwesinger, but having nearly half of his third-year salary guaranteed was unprecedented (and it will likely now become the new floor for players picked 60th overall).
As for cornerback Jahdae Barron, the team's first-round draft pick, he agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth just over $18 million on Tuesday evening. Because he was a first-round pick, Barron's contract also includes a fifth-year option for the 2029 season.
Broncos veterans are set to report on July 22, followed by practices beginning on July 25 (view the full training camp schedule). Harvey, Barron and their rookie teammates are reporting this week.
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