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The Seahawks are screwing everything up for the Lions and everyone else right now

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Mike Payton | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 11:53 AM ET

The Detroit Lions are set to start training camp on Wednesday when rookies are due to report. There's one rookie that we aren't sure is going to be there, and that's second-round pick Tate Ratledge.

Ratledge has not yet signed his rookie deal, and until he does, he cannot participate in camp. Now, when some people hear that sort of thing, the brain immediately jumps to the conclusion that Ratledge is being greedy and selfish. That's just not what is happening here.

What is happening is something that has been in motion for a while now. Going back to Sam LaPorta and his rookie deal. Contracts for second-round picks have been changing more and more every year. Two years ago, when LaPorta signed his deal.

LaPorta, the 34th overall pick, appears to have gotten 20% of his fourth year guaranteed, this is more than any 2nd rounder last year by a good margin . Avila at pick 36 got 10% of yr 4 guaranteed. Mayer had signed at pick 35 but no details yet, probably 15ish% of yr 4 guaranteed https://t.co/ZVQLqRCxKI
— Daniel Salib (@salibdaniel1) June 15, 2023

It's all about the guarantees. They've been growing more and more each year, and then this year, the Houston Texans gave the 34th pick, Jayden Higgins, a fully guaranteed contract.

It made sense that they would do that since they didn't have a first-round pick and Higgins was actually their first pick of the draft. But then the Cleveland Browns joined in and gave 33rd pick Carson Schwesinger a fully guaranteed deal. That made sense because the guy picked after him got one.

Then the ball bounced into the Seattle Seahawks' court, and everyone in the second round began waiting to see what they would do with 35th pick Nick Emmanwori. The ball has been sitting there since May 9th.

Agents for the rest of the 29 players in this round are sitting here waiting to see what the Seahawks will do. The idea being that whatever Emmanwori gets will set the market for the rest of the round. So if he gets a fully guaranteed contract or if he doesn't, it'll create a domino effect.

The Seahawks just haven't moved on this, and because of that, the rest of the league hasn't either. That deal could potentially come soon since the Seahawks report to camp on Tuesday. But right now, the rest of the league waits.

That includes the Lions. That is, unless they want to cave and just give Ratledge the fully guaranteed deal without waiting. They might as well, since they see him being a player who could play a major role on this offensive line for years to come. Of course, then the rest of the league might be mad at them, but who cares, right?

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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