Why the NFL’s 2nd-round rookies are still unsigned

While Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart is stealing headlines among unsigned rookies, due to the fact that he’s not participating in offseason practices with his team, there are still plenty of 2025 draft picks who have yet to sign their rookie contracts.

Below is the breakdown of players who are unsigned by round:

1st round: 2 (Stewart and Denver’s Jahdae Barron)

2nd round: 30

3rd round: 3

4th round: 5

5th round: 0

6th round: 0

7th round: 0

It doesn’t take a math whiz to figure out which group is unlike the others: the second-rounders. That, to me, is a much bigger story than Stewart v. Cincinnati.

So what’s going on here? Why haven’t second-rounders signed their rookie deals?

First…