Former Texas A&M defensive end Chemer Stewart, who was selected 17th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals, has been involved in a well-known contract dispute. Last month, Stewart walked out of the Bengals’ mandatory minicamp after sitting down, due to disagreements over contract terms related to the invalidation of his guaranteed salary.
Stewart isn’t the only recent draftee facing contract issues. Around 30 second-round picks from this year have yet to sign with their teams, including Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre Harris from Ole Miss. Harris was supposed to report to training camp on Saturday in El Segundo, California, but had not shown up by that evening. The Chargers confirmed to Front Office Sports that Harris would hold off reporting until contract talks with the team progress.
This delay in signing contracts came after two second-round picks received fully guaranteed contracts, a rare occurrence. The Houston Texans drew attention by giving former Iowa wide receiver Jaden Higgins, the second pick of the second round, a fully guaranteed rookie contract, making him the first second-rounder in NFL history to get such a deal. The following day, linebacker Carson Schwessinger, picked first in the second round by the Cleveland Browns and a UCLA convert, also signed a fully guaranteed contract.
More than two months later, the other 30 second-round picks remain unsigned and are reportedly seeking fully guaranteed contracts. CBS Sports reported last month that 40th overall pick and quarterback Tyler Shough, selected by the New Orleans Saints, has also been involved in delaying his signing. At 25 years old, Shough sought a fully guaranteed rookie contract after the surprising retirement of veteran Derek Carr.
The report date for the Chargers rookies has already arrived, and several other teams’ rookies, including the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, and San Francisco 49ers, are set to report on Tuesday. By July 23, all NFL players are expected to be at training camps.
Holdouts among rookies are rare but not unheard of, largely due to the 2011 collective bargaining agreement that established a rookie pay scale. Defensive player Joey Bosa and linebacker Roquan Smith both held out after their 2016 and 2018 drafts, respectively, delaying contract negotiations until training camp.
Fan Take: This ongoing contract standoff highlights a growing demand among rookies for guaranteed money, shifting the NFL’s traditional rookie pay structure. For fans, it underscores a critical shift in player empowerment that could lead to more guaranteed contracts, impacting how teams manage and invest in young talent.
