Just two days ago, all but two of the NFL’s second-round draft picks remained unsigned, holding out for fully guaranteed contracts — a consideration that had never before been granted to second-round picks.
The two who signed were the top two picks in the second round, UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger by the Cleveland Browns and Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins by the Houston Texans. Both received fully guarantee deals — an unprecedented development.
But that meant the other 30 second-rounders wanted their own contracts 100 percent guaranteed, as well. Hence, the holdouts — or to be more precise, refusals to sign.
Now, as of late Friday afternoon, 16 more second-round draft picks have signed in rapid succession. But not the Patriots’ second-rounder, Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson.
UPDATE 7/18: The holdout is over. At approximately 6 pm Eastern Time, the Patriots and Henderson agreed on a fully guaranteed, four-year contract, according to a report by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Ahead of Saturday’s reporting date, all Patriots rookies have now signed contracts, according to ESPN.com Patriots correspondent Mike Reiss.
All eyes across the NFL are focused on Henderson at this point because as pick No. 38, the sixth pick in the round, he is next in line.
Henderson Appears in Line For Full Guarantee
Of the five second-rounders selected ahead of Henderson, four have now signed with their teams — and all four have received full, four-year salary guarantees. The two latest came just after 4 pm Eastern Time, when the Miami Dolphins inked offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea to his four-year contract worth $11,310,028 — a value, as with all rookie contracts, pre-set by the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Just a half-hour later, the Chicago Bears gave a full guarantee to Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden, for the predetermined value of $10,952,052.
That left Henderson, whose $11,131,116 four-year deal remained without his signature. Henderson was picked between Savaiinaea and Burden which would indicate he is in line for a full guarantee as well.
The only player picked prior to Henderson who remained unsigned was Browns’ running back Quinshon Judkins, a teammate of Henderson’s at Ohio State, selected two spots before the Patriots pick.
But Judkins’ case is special. He was arrested Saturday on a domestic violence charge, and has said that he will focus on his legal troubles before reporting to Cleveland’s camp.
The most important “domino” in the ongoing second-round contract situation was Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori. The former South Carolina Gamecock was picked third in the round, No. 35 overall, and chose not to show up on Saturday when Seahawks rookies were scheduled to arrive at the team’s training camp.
Emmanwori was looking for the same treatment given to the two players taken ahead of him, Higgins and Schwesinger — and late on Thursday night he got it, agreeing to a fully guaranteed, four-year, $11,601,260 contract.
Patriots Could Be ‘Streak Buster’ on 100 Percent Guarantees
But Henderson remained in suspense. Not everyone was optimistic about his outcome.
“Every pick leading up to Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson (38th overall) has gotten a fully guaranteed rookie contract,” wrote Boston Globe columnist Ben Volin on Friday afternoon. “Would be on brand for the Patriots to be the streak buster.”
Another question also involves New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, taken with the pick immediately following Burden, No. 40. The former Oregon signal-caller, according to a CBS Sports report, believes that with the retirement of veteran Derek Carr, he will now become the Saints’ starting quarterback in 2025 — and that entitles him to a full salary guarantee.
By the end of the day Friday, both Henderson’s case and Shough’s were expected to be resolved. But if they are not, the pair could create significant problems for their respective teams when training camps officially open next week.
