Countless players picked in the NFL draft have already signed their rookie contracts. However, this is not the case for quite a few top athletes, including the No. 1 pick

With the 2011 NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, rookie contract negotiations have changed. Since then, many draft picks’ signings have been more timely – including this year.

All but 31 athletes have signed their contracts, meaning 228 picks in the draft class of 2023 are now under contract.

Excitingly, of the 31 players without contracts, a full nine were picked in the first round. So three of the four quarterbacks selected at the top four positions are still without a contract.

Three top quarterbacks still without a contract

In addition to C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans and Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts, this also applies to No. 1 pick Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers. Also from the second round of the draft, a full 14 rookies have yet to sign.

But why is it almost exclusively the top players who have yet to sign?

Athletes, but above all their agents, are trying to increase the guarantees in the rookie contracts, which run over four years. Topics of discussion include the signing bonus and provisions in the contracts that potentially invalidate future guarantees.