Unprecedented number of 2025 NFL Draft picks still unsigned

The NFL has hit a logjam and is collectively lagging far behind where it normally is at this point in the offseason. Two years ago, the league hit its last 30 unsigned players before July. Last year, teams were signing rookies as quickly as they were drafting them, and only 10 players remained unsigned by June 17. A couple of intriguing situations have caused pens to go quiet in 2025, and as a result, here are the 33 remaining unsigned rookies of the 2025 NFL Draft:

Round 1:

• No. 17 (Bengals): Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)
• No. 20 (Broncos): Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)

Round 2:

• No. 35 (Seahawks): Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)
• No. 36 (Browns): Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State)
• No. 37 (Dolphins): Jonah Savaiinaea (G, Arizona)
• No. 38 (Patriots): TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State)
• No. 39 (Bears): Luther Burden (WR, Missouri)
• No. 40 (Saints): Tyler Shough (QB, Louisville)
• No. 41 (Bills): T.J. Sanders (DT, South Carolina)
• No. 42 (Jets): Mason Taylor (TE, LSU)
• No. 43 (49ers): Alfred Collins (DT, Texas)
• No. 44 (Cowboys): Donovan Ezeiruaku (DE, Boston College)
• No. 45 (Colts): JT Tuimoloau (DE, Ohio State)
• No. 46 (Rams): Terrance Ferguson (TE, Oregon)
• No. 47 (Cardinals): Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
• No. 48 (Texans): Aireontae Ersery (T, Minnesota)
• No. 49 (Bengals): Demetrius Knight (LB, South Carolina)
• No. 50 (Seahawks): Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami)
• No. 51 (Panthers): Nic Scourton (OLB, Texas A&M)
• No. 52 (Titans): Oluwafemi Oladejo (OLB, UCLA)
• No. 53 (Buccaneers): Benjamin Morrison (CB, Notre Dame)
• No. 54 (Packers): Anthony Belton, T (NC State)
• No. 55 (Chargers): Tre Harris (WR, Ole Miss)
• No. 56 (Bears): Ozzy Trapilo (T, Boston College)
• No. 57 (Lions): Tate Ratledge (G, Georgia)
• No. 58 (Raiders): Jack Bech (WR, TCU)
• No. 59 (Ravens): Mike Green (OLB, Marshall)
• No. 60 (Broncos): RJ Harvey (RB, Central Florida)
• No. 61 (Commanders): Trey Amos (CB, Ole Miss)
• No. 62 (Bears): Shemar Turner (DT, Texas A&M)
• No. 63 (Chiefs): Omarr Norman-Lott (DT, Tennessee)
• No. 64 (Eagles): Andrew Mukuba (S, Texas)

Round 4:

• No. 107 (Jaguars): Jack Kiser (LB, Notre Dame)

In recent years, a trend has seen second-rounders lasting the longest, but what we’re seeing this year is unheard of. As rookies have been getting a bit of flexibility in negotiating structures of guarantees, getting deals done has become a waiting game of seeing what surrounding picks are getting for comparison. Last year, teams breezed through the issue, but 2025 has seen significantly increased troubles.

Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins set the tone by signing a fully guaranteed rookie contract, the first ever for a second-round selection. The next day, the Browns were essentially forced to do the same for Carson Schwesinger, picked one slot before Higgins. Shough, the Saints rookie quarterback, is seeking the same deal, hoping that his elevated status as a passer will help convince New Orleans to continue making history. Shough’s efforts have caused every pick between him and Higgins to stand pat, waiting to see if they get to ask for full guarantees from their teams, as well. This would be a drastic development, as last year’s 40th overall pick, Cooper DeJean, received only two fully guaranteed years with only partial guarantees in Year 3.

The biggest story outside of the second round is that of the standoff between Stewart and the Bengals. Stewart has issues with what he perceives as a lack of protection in Cincinnati’s offer that causes a contract default in any year to void any guarantees in all the following years. It’s a new precedent the team is trying to set, and Stewart seems intent on preventing them from doing so.

It will be interesting to see which standoff gets settled first: Stewart’s or Shough’s. The latter standoff ending would likely set off a domino reaction of second-round deals that would help a large number of teams close out their rookie classes. To this point, only four NFL teams have done so.