As NFL teams gear up for the upcoming season, training camps are just around the corner. In less than a week, all 32 franchises will report, but there’s an air of uncertainty due to a number of rookie holdouts. Following the 2025 NFL Draft, a total of 257 players were selected, but as of Thursday, 31 players still remain unsigned. The biggest challenge for most teams appears to be getting their second-round picks under contract. Out of the 32 players chosen in that round, only three have finalized their rookie deals.
However, there has been a significant shift in the past few days, as 22 signings occurred in just three days, leaving only eight players without a contract. Each of these players might miss valuable time if their deals aren’t sorted out before training camp begins. The Bengals, in particular, have some drama surrounding their first-round pick, Shemar Stewart. Tensions have risen as the team introduced new language into his contract that hadn’t been used with recent first-round selections. In response, Stewart has refused to participate in optional team activities and even missed practice during mandatory minicamp. If both sides remain rigid, it seems likely that Stewart will hold out from camp.
It’s worth noting that for two consecutive years, the Bengals have been the only team unable to secure a contract for their first-round pick by July 16. The list of unsigned players includes second-round talents like Quinshon Judkins from the Browns and Will Johnson from the Cardinals, with rookie report dates approaching fast.
The ongoing hold-up in the second round seems largely driven by contract guarantees. A recent decision by the Texans regarding a fully guaranteed deal for Jayden Higgins disrupted the balance in negotiations for other second-rounders. While teammate Tyler Shough did manage to secure his own lucrative deal, which includes a novel roster bonus structure, it remains to be seen how this impacts the remaining unsigned players as they work to finalize agreements.
As we watch these developments unfold, all eyes will be on the remaining unsigned players as training camp draws near. The urgency to finalize contracts will be a top priority as teams aim to have their rookies ready for the upcoming season.
