Three NFL teams who should feel the most pressure to cave and sign a fully-guaranteed contract with their 2025 second-round draft pick
You've heard the saying. "Deadlines spur action." We have our latest round of deadlines swiftly approaching across the NFL, with the report date for every NFL team due by the middle of next week at the latest. As a result, we're set to see one of the major storylines of the summer across the NFL potentially […]
You've heard the saying. "Deadlines spur action."
We have our latest round of deadlines swiftly approaching across the NFL, with the report date for every NFL team due by the middle of next week at the latest. As a result, we're set to see one of the major storylines of the summer across the NFL potentially come to a head — what is the NFL going to do about these second-round rookie contracts?
The Los Angeles Chargers are the first team to have an official holdout on their hands, with second-round pick wide receiver Tre Harris marking the first established conflict. But there may be 29 other holdouts set to join Harris in the next week and a half.
Which NFL teams should feel the most urgency to cave to the ask of their second-round rookies and hand out a fully-guaranteed contract? Here are three who have a clearly established need on their roster that only their young draft pick can sufficiently fill.
Three teams that should feel the most pressure to cave to fully-guaranteed asks

Miami Dolphins – OL Jonah Savaiinaea (37th overall)
The Miami Dolphins' offense regressed in all phases in 2024. Explosive plays, run game efficiency, points, yards, you name it. Yes, some of that was on account of the health of QB Tua Tagovailoa. But some of it was also a root cause of a bet along the offensive line that this team lost last offseason. Miami hoped two backups from 2023, Robert Jones and Liam Eichenberg, would become stable players after playing a majority of the snaps unexpectedly. They did not.
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 (57th overall)
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.
The Lions have had some interruption to their ranks thanks to the departure of Ben Johnson to Chicago. Does that change help Ratledge to not be any further behind? If it does, doesn't that only underscore the need for everyone who is going to play to work on reps, combinations, calls, and communication?

San Francisco 49ers – DT Alfred Collins (43rd overall)
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.
