Of the 257 players in the 2025 NFL Draft, 40 have not yet signed a contract. Thirty of them are second-round picks. This is partly due to a move by the Houston Texans.

The franchises are not particularly happy with the Houston Texans at the moment. Specifically: with general manager Nick Caserio!

That’s because he changed the starting position for all second-round picks this year with an unusual contract.

Caserio was the first general manager to sign his pick from this round. Wide receiver Jayden Higgins received a four-year contract worth $11.7 million – fully guaranteed

Fully guaranteed! Caserio and Higgins made NFL history! Never before has a second-round pick received a fully guaranteed contract.

The problem with this is that now all the other second-round picks are also demanding such a contract – or rather, their agents are.

The Browns, whose player Carson Schwesinger was the only one selected ahead of Higgins in the second round, followed suit immediately. Schwesinger’s $11.8 million is also fully guaranteed.

“All the agents are now saying, ‘Hey, they did it. We want that too,’” Texans beat writer John McClain assesses the situation. “Anyone who has trouble getting their second-round pick signed should blame Nick Caserio, the Texans’ general manager.”

75 percent of players from round two without a contract

Nevertheless, he believes it is realistic that the franchises will be able to convince their rookies to sign contracts in time.

“Now that we’re getting closer to training camp, they’ll sign, of course. But right now, it’s unprecedented that so many second-round picks haven’t signed yet. And you can’t blame them for asking.”

In addition to the 30 second-round picks, only four first-round picks and six fourth-round picks have yet to sign their contracts. Among them is number two pick Travis Hunter, who could be another exception.

Hunter can play both offense as a wide receiver and defense as a cornerback. What such a contract would look like and to what extent Hunter could “double dip” is still unclear.