Two weeks to the day after the 2026 NFL Draft concluded, 65% of the players selected have signed their first professional contracts. According to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, 166 of the 257 draft picks have agreed to terms as of Friday night.
Rounds five and seven have the highest signing percentages, with 85% of players in each round finalizing deals—35 of 41 players in both rounds have signed. In contrast, only 12 of 32 first-round picks (37.5%) and 7 of 32 second-round picks (21.9%) have signed their contracts.
The disparity in second-round signings is notable, with teams reportedly delaying deals amid ongoing negotiations over fully-guaranteed contracts. Last year, the first 40 players selected—through the eighth pick in round two—received fully-guaranteed contracts. This year, only the sixth player taken in round two (Raiders safety Treydan Stukes) and the seventh (Browns receiver Denzel Boston) have signed fully-guaranteed deals.
All NFL teams except the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, and Miami Dolphins have signed at least one of their draft selections.
Trend Toward Early Signings Accelerates
Historically, players rarely signed contracts so quickly after the draft. However, the trend has shifted toward finalizing deals before rookie minicamps. This approach ensures players are treated as employees from the outset, aligning with team expectations for professional conduct.
"If the teams want the players to behave like employees, they should make them employees."
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