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Why hasn’t Cardinals 2nd-round pick Will Johnson sign rookie contract

Originally posted on Burn City Sports
By Tanner Tortorella | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 11:43 PM ET

GLENDALE – One of the biggest standoffs in the NFL this offseason has been between the Cincinnati Bengals and 1st-round draft pick Shemar based on contract disputes. The controversy surrounding them has completely overshadowed 30 other standoffs between draft picks and their teams, including the Arizona Cardinals.

The Houston Texans reportedly gave their 2nd-round pick Jayden Higgins a fully guaranteed contract, the first every by a rookie not drafted in the first round. The result has been 30 of the 32 2nd-round picks to remain unsigned. Arizona’s 47th overall pick, Will Johnson remains one of those names and was seen as a steal of the draft at the time.

Should Cardinals worry about Johnson:

Wild: The Texans just broke the NFL.

They gave Jayden Higgins the first fully guaranteed 2nd-round rookie deal ever.

Now, almost every 2nd-round pick (30 of the 32) is still unsigned and is actively refusing to sign.

Rookie contracts will never be the same pic.twitter.com/S096hzBDxJ

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 13, 2025

Johnson has talked to the media and participated in rookie and voluntary minicamps this offseason, but the deal remains unsigned. Six of the Seven Cardinals draft picks have been signed to rookie deals, with each pick allotted a value beforehand. However, signing bonuses and guaranteed deals are typically the aspect of rookie contracts that hold up players from immediately signing.

Injuries concerns caused Johnson to fall to the 2nd round, which looked like a blessing for the Cardinals but has now turned into a hassle. Johnson is full prepared to take part in training camp in the coming weeks, but the contract situation remains up in the air, with not timetable when it could be signed.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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