NFL rookies trying to flex whatever muscle they have with their contracts

When the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) go to the negotiating table for the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), there is a large amount of give and take. This is true for any negotiations between ownership and a labor union. If one side wants something, the other side will only give on that if they get something in return.

The last time the NFL and NFLPA were negotiating the CBA, it was the players who wanted a bigger piece of the revenue pie, but one of the things the players gave up were in rookie contracts. It’s been two CBAs now that the rookie pay scale has been in place, meaning you have a slotted pay scale depending on when you were selected in that particular NFL Draft.

Rookies, and their representation, have long been fighting for every inch they can guarantee with their contracts, and this continues into the 2025 training camp season. With the vast majority of 1st Round pick contracts being fully guaranteed, this same trend is bleeding into the 2nd Round as well.

As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Los Angeles Chargers rookies reported Saturday, and 2nd Round pick Tre Harris was still without a contract.

With Chargers rookies reporting today, there still is no deal for second-round pick Tre Harris.

There’s still time before practices, but the NFL could have an inordinate amount of second-round picks not showing up to the start of camp this year due to disagreements over… https://t.co/nHfMINMyDx

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 12, 2025

Harris isn’t the only 2nd Round pick left unsigned. As of this being written, 30 2025 2nd Round picks remain unsigned as the players are trying to flex whatever proverbial muscle they have in contract negotiations.

There is a good chance all of these players will be signed within the first week of their reporting to their respective camps, but how many teams will cave and guarantee their contracts in full? Will this be the start of a new trend in the league, with the 2nd Round picks contracts going the trend and being fully guaranteed?

This will be something to keep an eye on over the course of the next few weeks, as well as when these two parties, the NFL and NFLPA, head back to the negotiating tables for the next CBA.