Seahawks rival just helped them solve one of their biggest problems

Among the mess of 2025 second-round draft picks not signing their rookie contracts this year, the Seattle Seahawks had two players the team is counting on to immediately help the team win games, but who couldn't practice. Tight end Elijah Arroyo and safety Nick Emmanwori can only sit and watch.

The positive part is that Arroyo, for one, could be closer to signing his rookie deal because of a move the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle's NFC West rival, made this week. The 49ers' second-round choice, defensive lineman Alfred Collins, agreed to terms on Wednesday, and the way his contract is structured is key.

Collins is only the third second-round pick to sign so far (though, after his signing, expect a lot more to come soon), but he is the first to sign without having a fully guaranteed deal. He will get paid his slotted amount, as all draft selections have a certain amount they are paid based on when they are chosen, but just $9 million of his $10.3 million deal is guaranteed.

The 49ers might have just helped the Seahawks sign Nick Emmanwori and Elijah Arroyo

Collins was taken number 43 overall, while Arroyo was selected at number 50. The rookie tight end's agent will now have a tougher time trying to get the Seahawks to fully guarantee his client's deal. Most of it will be, but probably not all.

It might also be important for the Seahawks to ink Arroyo to a contract before signing Emmanwori. With Emmanwori, the situation is a lot more complicated. The first second-round picks to be signed were number 33 choice, Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, and number 34 selection, Houston Texans receiver Jayden Higgins.

Higgins signed first, and the Texans took the unprecedented step for a second-round pick by fully guaranteeing his deal. The Browns were basically forced to do the same with Schwesinger.

Emmanwori was the number 35 pick, so he should expect to have his contract fully guaranteed, too. That might not happen, but that should be his expectation.

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Should Arroyo sign before Emmanwori and have his contract fully guaranteed, Emmanwori should have the same done for him. General manager John Schneider's job with the Arroyo deal got easier because of what the 49ers did with Collins. In fact, other GMs around the league should be working to not fully guarantee any of the contracts after pick 43.

What happens between picks 35 and 43, however, is still anyone's guess. The truth is that the difference between what Emmanwori will receive at pick 35 ($10.68 million with a signing bonus of around $1.94 million) and the guaranteed money he gets is going to be small. Why not sign him to a guaranteed contract?

Arroyo shouldn't be, though, because of the 49ers and Collins agreement. The good part is that because Alfred Collins did not get a fully guaranteed deal, other second-round selections should be signing soon. This includes Elijah Arroyo, but maybe not Nick Emmanwori.