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What’s going on with all the second-round pick holdouts?

Training camp is approaching, yet only two of the 32 players selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft have signed their rookie deals. What gives?

Well, the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns are sort of to blame. They gave fully guaranteed contracts to receiver Jayden Higgins and linebacker Carson Schwesinger, respectively, setting a new precedent for rookie deals for second-round picks.

Now, the rest of the second-rounders picks want their pieces of the pie, but NFL teams are trying not to cave to their demands. Problem is, they might not have a choice if they want their top players fully acclimated and ready to go for the regular season.

So, the question is, who caves first? Our guy Kyle Crabbs explained that some teams might try to wait it out, while others may be desperate and ultimately sign. Below are some teams and players that he highlighted.

Teams that may wait it out

New Orleans Saints (QB Tyler Shough, pick 40): “New Orleans has a few things going for them organizationally that could allow them to be patient, should they choose to be. Head coach Kellen Moore is in his first year with the franchise, which should (in theory) provide him with a runway to build up a roster that's been slowly leaking talent for years. The team also has quarterback Spencer Rattler in-house as a draft choice from the 2024 NFL Draft. Rattler played approximately 400 snaps for the Saints as a rookie — the team could easily justify seeing more of him early in 2025.

“Shough has positional value in his back pocket to ask for fully-guaranteed terms but the Saints should be playing a longer game here. If the team performs as poorly as some think they could, the Saints would be in position to draft a top quarterback next year. If that situation comes to life, the Saints would likely appreciate having a little extra flexibility with their exit ramps on Shough's contract down the road without potentially being on the hook for future guarantees if they ultimately go in a different direction.”

Green Bay Packers (OL Anthony Belton, pick 54): “The sky is the limit for Anthony Belton, he's got a very good blend of size, power, and linear athleticism to him. But he's probably the seventh offensive lineman on Green Bay's depth chart to open the season at best. He's behind projected starters Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Tom — plus 2024 first-round draft choice Jordan Morgan.

“With this much depth and positional flexibility to Green Bay's offensive line, things would have to go very sideways very fast for Belton to be a high-leverage piece on the line. Without the immediate pressure and stress to contribute, the Packers are well positioned to offer their "business as usual" contract without offering fully-guaranteed terms.”

Cleveland Browns (RB Quinshon Judkins, pick 36): “Cleveland has already handed out one fully-guaranteed second-round contract this offseason . . . But Judkins was arrested over the weekend related to charges of battery and domestic violence. Due process will play itself out with the case and Judkins' conduct off the field — but right now it's a pretty tough sell to get on board with the Browns handing out a fully-guaranteed contract without more facts of his situation available.”

Teams that may be pressured to cave

Miami Dolphins (OL Jonah Savaiinaea, pick 37): “[Tua] Tagovailoa's health is all the more reason for Miami to feel the pressure to get this group right. And that means Savaiinaea, who is one-half of the team's offensive guard overhaul with veteran James Daniels, needs to be ready to roll when the season starts. Missing time with an official holdout over a few million dollars off a rookie contract isn't the hill this team should be willing to die on relative to the opportunity cost of grooming Jonah to be an asset up front.”

Detroit Lions (OL Tate Ratledge, pick 57): “Ratledge has big shoes to fill. With the retirement of Frank Ragnow this offseason, the Lions appear to have their eyes set on asking Ratledge to be the new center of the front. That comes with exceptional pressure and responsibility. Ratledge is a player the Lions should be excited about, but giving him every single rep opportunity to help prep for the start of the season should be a priority.”

San Francisco 49ers (DT Alfred Collins, pick 43): “The 49ers have made a concentrated effort to completely rebuild their defensive front around Nick Bosa. Robert Saleh is back running the defense. Collins and fellow rookie C.J. West are the new faces in the heart of the line and will be paired with Mykel Williams and Bryce Huff to comprise the bulk of the 49ers line. But Collins is the key. He's a massive run stuffer in the middle who should be an upgrade for a 49ers team that gave up 24 rushing touchdowns in 2024. That ranked 30th in the NFL. Their 4.4 yards allowed per rush ranked 17th.

“Just two years ago, San Francisco averaged 3.4 yards per rush allowed. They'd conceded 21 rushing touchdowns in the 2022 and 2023 seasons COMBINED. Collins should be the centerpiece on early downs, but he needs to get signed. For a 49ers team going through major transition, having the basics in place will go a long way.”

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Jauan Jennings may want a trade — What’s his value look like?

The 49ers can’t seem to escape having preseason wideout issues. Their latest? Jauan Jennings, who may be looking for a new contract or a trade per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Jennings, 28, has been a solid piece in the Niners’ receiving corps. He had a breakout season last year, earning 975 yards and six touchdowns on 77 receptions. In 2025, he’s due $7.5 million in his final contracted year with San Francisco.

If Jennings ends up traded to another team, what would that deal look like? Kyle Crabbs broke down Jennings’ trade market by comparing his situation to similar trades of the past:

Mohamed Sanu: “Sanu was traded as a 30-year old wide receiver in-season after serving as a big, physical, complementary receiver with the Falcons and Bengals. He was shipped to New England for a second-round draft choice in the 2020 NFL Draft, a move that turned into an absolute disaster for New England. Jennings is two years younger than Sanu was in 2019 and is a better route runner — but this is the gold standard for what his trade market could look like.”

Martavis Bryant: “Bryant was traded in 2018 after three seasons of play and four years in Pittsburgh. He was suspended for the 2016 season, which came after his career-best season as a 24-year-old wide receiver in 2015. Bryant was a dynamic downfield target who was a fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft and is certainly a more explosive player than Jennings, so their style of play is not a one-for-one. But after his return from suspension, he had a successful season in Pittsburgh and was then traded to the Raiders for a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft — although that deal came together in April before that year's draft, not in the summertime.”

DeVante Parker: “Parker, even at his best, was not the same route runner that Jennings is. Please don't mistake this as a player comparison. But there's certainly some overlap for players who teased potential that makes the compensation package worth noting. Parker was traded off of a breakout stretch of play while getting paid middle-class wide receiver money; that surely overlaps with Jennings. Parker, along with a 2022 fifth-round draft choice, was traded to New England ahead of the 2022 NFL draft for a 2023 third-round pick.”

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