With training camps starting, teams are dealing with an issue involving second-round rookies due to a contract precedent set by two players who have already signed their deals. For the Los Angeles Chargers, the situation is already becoming problematic.
The reporting date for the Chargers’ rookies was July 12, and the absence of wide receiver Tre Harris automatically placed him in a holdout situation due to ongoing contract disputes. However, an NFL analyst explained why, unlike other holdouts, this does not result in a fine for the rookie.
Why Is Tre Harris And Other Rookies’ Holdout Different Than Veteran Holdouts?
Every year, at least one rookie delays signing their contract until just before the preseason due to issues with how their slotted deal is structured. What’s unusual about 2025 is that 30 of the 32 second-round picks have yet to sign their contracts.
The deadline for #Chargers rookies to report is upon us and second round WR Tre Harris is officially a holdout, sources say.
With 30 of the 32 second-round picks unsigned because of a disagreement over guaranteed money, Harris makes the first official stand. pic.twitter.com/Z2PU9p0wEc
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 12, 2025
The start of the Chargers’ mandatory camp officially placed Tre Harris, who still hasn’t signed with the team, in a holdout situation. Veterans negotiating long-term contracts often use this tactic to avoid injuries and other obligations that could impact negotiations.
In most cases, holdouts come with fines that accumulate for each missed day, though those can be waived once the contract is signed. But in Harris’s case, he won’t be fined because, as Mike Florio explains, he’s not under contract yet.
“Reminder: There’s a difference between holdouts who aren’t under contract and those that are. Unsigned draft picks face no financial penalties for staying away from camp,” Florio wrote via X.
It’s not uncommon for rookies to get into early contract disputes, even though the NFL’s draft slotting system predetermines the total value of their deal. What can be negotiated, however, is the structure, and in 2025, a major precedent has been set.
Reminder: There’s a difference between holdouts who aren’t under contract and those that are. Unsigned draft picks face no financial penalties for staying away from camp.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 12, 2025
So far, the only second-round picks to sign are linebacker Carson Schwesinger with the Cleveland Browns and wide receiver Jayden Higgins with the Houston Texans. Both received fully guaranteed four-year contracts, which has become the standard demand from the rest of the second-round class.
Higgins, selected with the 34th pick in the draft, became the first second-round rookie to receive a fully guaranteed contract, setting a new standard that other rookies have since demanded in their negotiations.
Houston Texans and rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins have agreed to a fully guaranteed four-year $11,700,824 contract, per Chris Cabott of @EquitySports. Higgins is the first second-round pick in NFL history to have a fully guaranteed contract. pic.twitter.com/fyPM50BTbL
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 8, 2025
This precedent has complicated negotiations for the other 30 unsigned players and could reshape how teams approach second-round picks in the future, especially regarding contract guarantees.
One of the highest-profile standoffs this offseason involves edge rusher Shemar Stewart and the Cincinnati Bengals. It centers on how money is distributed and the inclusion of injury clauses. Stewart has reportedly been furious over the team’s stance on offering a fully guaranteed deal.
