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2023 NFL Draft

Top Second-Round Picks In Mix For Fully Guaranteed Contracts

June 30th, 2023 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Signing second-round picks continues to be a slow-moving process for many teams. Fourteen second-rounders remain unsigned. That accounts for almost half the unsigned draftees remaining from this year’s class.

No. 39 overall pick Jonathan Mingo receiving three fully guaranteed years and part of his 2026 season locked in has undoubtedly caused the gridlock for teams negotiating with players chosen shortly after the Panthers wide receiver. The Nos. 40-48 picks have not signed their rookie deals. But more clarity came earlier in the round; the Nos. 34-39 players have inked their respective rookie contracts. Three-year guarantees are now the standard in that slot range. But the two players chosen atop Round 2 are likely looking to further adjust the draft pay structure.

Neither Joey Porter Jr. (Steelers, No. 32 overall) nor Will Levis (Titans, No. 33) have signed. Agents for both players are likely aiming to land fully guaranteed deals for their clients, and GOPHNX.com’s Howard Balzer notes others in the agent community view full guarantees as in play for the two second-round leadoff picks. No second-rounder has secured a fully guaranteed deal since the 2011 CBA implemented the slot system.

The first round has featured fully guaranteed deals for just two years. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, the No. 32 overall picks in 2020 and ’21, received partial fourth-year guarantees. But last year’s 32nd pick — Vikings safety Lewis Cine — effectively closed the book on the partial guarantee era for first-rounders, receiving all his money ($11.494MM) guaranteed. As such, this year’s final first-rounder — Chiefs defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah — signed a fully guaranteed $11.818MM deal. The tide now appears to be rising toward Round 2, putting the onus on the Steelers and Titans to offer more player security.

Since the NFL stripped the Dolphins of their first-round choice, Porter has a clear case for a fully guaranteed pact. Had the Sean Payton–Tom Brady tampering matter not removed Miami’s slot from the equation, Porter’s draft slot would have arrived in Round 1. As a quarterback, Levis has some additional leverage as well. Levis securing a buttoned-up deal may be more notable going forward, due to his No. 33 slot, but he will probably need Porter’s help.

A drop-off in guaranteed cash took place after Cine in 2022; Buccaneers No. 33 overall selection Logan Hall only received $225K of his $1.98MM 2026 base salary guaranteed. This year’s 34th overall choice — Lions tight end Sam LaPorta — has already done better, securing $408K of his 2026 salary guaranteed. Porter and Levis look to be aiming to follow Cine in moving the bar forward for picks in this range, though the gap between Anudike-Uzomah’s guaranteed money and LaPorta’s overall guarantee ($9.47MM) does provide a reasonable bridge for the Pittsburgh and Tennessee rookies to cross.

This can be considered a fairly minor development; the 2011 CBA’s slot system removed much of the haggling and ensuing holdouts involving rookie contracts. But any second-rounder securing a fully guaranteed deal will represent a notable hurdle cleared, as the slot system has now been in place for 13 drafts. It will also be worth watching to see if the Steelers and Titans attempt to hold the line, thus bringing holdouts into play this year. Titans rookies report to camp July 22, with Steelers opening July 26.

Packers Sign Round 1 DL Lukas Van Ness

June 27th, 2023 at 4:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers still have some work to do regarding draft signings, but they checked off their top box Tuesday. Green Bay signed first-round pick Lukas Van Ness to his rookie contract.

Van Ness’ deal will be fully guaranteed and will run through 2026. The Packers can extend the contract through 2027 via the fifth-year option. While that decision will not be due until May 2026, the Packers have not declined a fifth-year option since passing on 2013 first-rounder Datone Jones‘ in 2016.

Van Ness made some draft history by going in the first round despite never starting a game at Iowa. The 6-foot-5, 272-pound defensive lineman still zoomed onto the Round 1 radar, clocking a 4.58-second 40-yard dash at the Combine after impressing as a critical off-the-bench cog with the Hawkeyes. Van Ness, who totaled 13 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss during his final two college seasons, has experience rushing from the edge and interior posts along the defensive line. That will give the Packers options.

Green Bay chose Van Ness with the No. 13 overall pick it obtained from New York in the Aaron Rodgers swap completed days before the draft. Moving up two spots, the Packers took a defensive player once again opted for defense in Round 1. Although the team traded up for Jordan Love in 2020, that is the only offensive investment the team has made in Round 1 over the past 12 drafts.

Over the past several months, the Packers lost Rashan Gary to a torn ACL and lost Dean Lowry in free agency. The team is expected to move 2022 first-rounder Devonte Wyatt into its starting lineup alongside Kenny Clark. Van Ness could fit as an edge rusher alongside Gary and Preston Smith or an interior presence with Clark on passing downs. This addition gives the Packers intriguing choices, assuming Gary returns to full strength, along their front seven.

Even after the Van Ness agreement, the Packers still have both their second-round picks — tight end Luke Musgrave and wide receiver Jayden Reed — unsigned. Guarantee issues involving second-round picks have gridlocked the middle of that round, with no players chosen between Nos. 40 and 48 having signed yet. Musgrave went off the board 42nd.

30 Unsigned Draft Picks Remain

June 26th, 2023 at 2:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

With training camps less than a month away, 30 members of the 2023 draft class remain unsigned. Several teams have agreed to terms with their entire draft classes, but a handful of teams have multiple players still unsigned. Draft slots largely explain this. First- and second-rounders comprise the bulk of the unsigned lot, with guarantees the core issue for the latter group. Here are the unsigned draftees:

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Round 4:

Round 6:

The second-round slowdown continues a trend. Last year, more Round 2 choices received three fully guaranteed years compared to prior drafts. This year’s No. 39 overall pick — Panthers wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (Ole Miss) — broke through with three locked-in years and a partial 2026 guarantee. This would explain the next nine players drafted being unsigned, with the agents for the players chosen immediately after Mingo angling for the same terms or guarantees in the same ballpark.

No. 31 overall choice Felix Anudike-Uzomah‘s four-year Chiefs deal is fully guaranteed, while No. 34 pick Sam LaPorta (Lions) has a partial 2026 guarantee. This would explain the Nos. 32 and 33 choices remaining unsigned. Other issues — like offset language and signing bonus payouts — annually arise in rookie-deal negotiations, but most of these players will be signed by the time teams head to training camp. A few stragglers report late due to their contracts each year, but the 2011 CBA’s slot system — which the 2020 CBA kept in place — largely addressed the issues that once emerged frequently regarding rookie pacts.

Steelers Sign Round 1 T Broderick Jones

June 23rd, 2023 at 1:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers are now down to one unsigned draft choice. Their first-round pick, tackle Broderick Jones, agreed to terms on his four-year rookie contract Friday.

Georgia’s left tackle starter last season, Jones is now under contract through 2026. By May of that year, the Steelers can decide to pick up his fifth-year option and push the deal through 2027. For now, Jones is early in his developmental stages. While he comes to Pittsburgh expected to take over at left tackle, the ascent is not guaranteed to happen before Week 1.

[RELATED: Steelers Sign Round 2 DT Keeanu Benton]

Although Jones entered the draft pool as one of this year’s top prospects, he spent one season as a primary college starter. Granted, it was for a program that won a second straight national championship. But Jones resided as a backup during his freshman and sophomore seasons. Following eventual Chargers sixth-round pick Jamaree Salyer‘s NFL entrance in 2022, Jones took over at left tackle for the Bulldogs. He started all 15 games on Stetson Bennett‘s blind side, gliding to first-team All-SEC acclaim and setting himself up as a higher-regarded prospect than Salyer.

ESPN’s Scouts Inc. graded Jones as the No. 3 tackle available and 13th-best overall prospect. After the Bears chose Tennessee’s Darnell Wright at No. 10, the Titans went with Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski. Following two non-O-line choices at Nos. 12 and 13, the Steelers swooped in with a three-spot move up the board. Steelers decision-makers have confirmed they believed the Jets were preparing to draft Jones at No. 15, leading to the trade talks with the Patriots, who enjoyed the ancillary benefit of denying the Jets a first-round-caliber tackle. While the Patriots also have questions at tackle, they preferred Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

Jones will attempt to wrest the tackle job from two-year incumbent Dan Moore, a 2021 third-round pick. The Steelers have received unspectacular tackle play from Moore and Chukwuma Okorafor, leading to the team’s first Round 1 tackle investment since 1996. But Moore has thus far held his own against the high-end prospect. This matter will not be settled until pads come on, and Jones is ticketed to be Pittsburgh’s long-term answer on Kenny Pickett‘s blind side. For now, however, the 14th overall pick is not a lock to begin the season as a starter.

With Benton signing earlier today, only No. 32 overall pick Joey Porter Jr. remains unsigned from Pittsburgh’s 2023 class.

Texans Sign No. 3 Pick Will Anderson Jr.

June 23rd, 2023 at 12:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the first time in 2023, a top-five pick from this year’s class has inked his rookie contract. Will Anderson Jr.‘s Texans deal is now in place, as noted (on Twitter) by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Anderson’s contract is worth a fully guranteed $35.2MM over four years; Houston will be able to keep him on the books beyond that via the fifth-year option. He will receive a signing bonus of $22.6MM as he begins his NFL career, one during which much will be expected of him.

The Alabama alum entered the 2022 season in the running to hear his name called first on draft night. His sophomore campaign saw him rack up 17.5 sacks and 31 tackles for loss, figures which placed him fifth in Heisman voting in that year. A step forward from those lofty totals would have boosted his stock even further, but the opposite scenario played out during the campaign.

Anderson’s production took a step back in terms of sacks (10) and TFLs (17), but they still resulted in considerable accolades. The 6-4, 243-pounder was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, winner of the Bronko Nagurski award (given to the country’s top defender) and a unanimous first-team All-American for the second consecutive season. He was thus squarely on the Texans’ radar in the build-up to the draft.

Houston appeared to take themselves out of contention for Anderson when they selected quarterback C.J. Stroud second overall. That decision was soon followed, however, by a bold move up the board to No. 3 which saw the Texans part ways with the No. 12 pick and a package including a 2024 first-rounder. Anderson’s arrival in Houston will thus be met with sky-high expectations both in his rookie season and over the course of his career.

The Cardinals will have plenty of reasons to follow Anderson’s performance in 2023 and the impact it will have on the Texans’ ability to begin heading out of the rebuilding phase. He will transition from an outside linebacker to a defensive end at the NFL level under new head coach DeMeco Ryans, a change which is not expected to slow his development. Anderson will have plenty of snaps available as a rookie member of an edge group which will be led by Jerry Hughes and Jonathan Greenard after the free agent departure of Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.

With Anderson now on the books, Stroud stands as the only Texans rookie yet to ink his rookie deal. He, along with Anderson, will be central figures in the team’s performance in 2023 and for several years beyond that.

Steelers Sign Round 2 DT Keeanu Benton

June 23rd, 2023 at 11:05am CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers have nearly completed the process of signing their draft class to their initial NFL contracts. Pittsburgh inked second-round defensive tackle Keeanu Benton to his four-year rookie deal, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link).

Notably, Rapoport reports that Benton’s contract includes guranteed money in Year 3, something which is unprecedented for players selected in the No. 49 slot. The move likely signals the expectations Pittsburgh has for the Wisconsin product, who demonstrated a disruptive ability during his time at the college level and will be tasked with translating it to the pro game.

Benton spent four years with the Badgers, and he showcased his pass-rushing traits right away with a pair of sacks in eight games during his freshman season. The 6-4, 315-pounder was held without a sack or tackle for loss as a sophomore, but his production picked up over the past two seasons. During that span, he totaled seven sacks and 15 TFLs, adding four pass deflections and a pair of fumble recoveries along the way.

Those figures made the 21-year-old one of the top DT prospects in this year’s class, and a target of the Steelers with their third selection. Benton will join a defensive line which also features three-time All-Pro Cameron Heyward and the re-signed Larry Ogunjobi along the interior. Those veterans are under contract through 2024 and ’25, respectively, so Benton will likely see a rotational role early in his career.

Much of his playing time could come via the snaps vacated by veteran Tyson Alualu. The latter is unsigned after spending the past six years in the Steel City, a tenure he would prefer to extend. The presence of Benton gives the Steelers a short- and long-term replacement, though, and more upside with respect to their depth options along the defensive front. With the latter’s deal now taken care of, Pittsburgh’s only remaining unsigned rookies are the two selected ahead of Benton, left tackle Broderick Jones and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. 

Bears Sign Gervon Dexter, Tyrique Stevenson, Complete Rookie Signings

June 15th, 2023 at 6:49pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bears have signed both of their second-round picks. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports (via Twitter) that Chicago has signed defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. With these two signings, the Bears have officially inked their entire draft class to rookie contracts.

The Bears selected Dexter with the No. 53 pick, acquired in the team’s haul for Roquan Smith. After playing sparingly in 2020, the defensive tackle took on a bigger role at Florida during the 2021 and 2022 campaigns. In 26 games between those two seasons, Dexter compiled 105 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. Scouts were wary of his so-so pass-rushing ability and lack of speed, but Chicago was still plenty intrigued in the prospect’s six-foot-six, 310-pound makeup.

Justin Jones will be back in 2023 after starting all 17 games for Chicago last season, and the team added nose tackles Andrew Billings and third-round rookie Zacch Pickens. Dexter will surely be used as a rotational piece at both DT and NT, but the Bears will have the luxury of bringing him along slowly considering their depth in the middle of the defensive line.

Chicago ended up trading up with their other second-round pick to select Stevenson. The defensive back earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2022 after defending seven passes and picking off a pair of passes in 11 games for Miami (FL). The prospect has the size to be a top cornerback in the NFL, and he’ll probably get the first shot at the starting gig opposite Jaylon Johnson.

The Bears were one of the most active teams during and leading up to the NFL Draft, highlighted by their trade of the first-overall pick. When all was said and done, the team ended up selecting 10 rookies:

Lions Sign Round 2 TE Sam LaPorta

June 15th, 2023 at 2:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

After trading T.J. Hockenson on deadline day last year, the Lions looked to the same place to address the newly created tight end need. The latest Iowa-developed tight end to become an early-round prospect, Sam LaPorta is now signed to his rookie contract.

Detroit will give LaPorta the new terms for early second-rounders, fully guaranteeing his first three seasons, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. The No. 34 overall pick will also receive a partial guarantee for his Year 4 payout; $408K of LaPorta’s 2026 salary is locked in at signing, per Wilson.

The Lions drafted Hockenson eighth overall in 2019. While LaPorta does not join Hockenson, Eric Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew as first-round Lions draftees over the past 15 years, he does follow a host of Iowa-produced tight ends into the league. Hockenson, George Kittle, Noah Fant and Parker Hesse have emerged from the Big Ten program in recent years. This batch came after the Dallas Clark–Tony Moeaki–Scott Chandler–Brandon Myers–C.J. Fiedorowicz crop entered the league from 2003-14. The Lions will again bet on the tight end factory.

LaPorta became this year’s second tight end taken, following Utah’s Dalton Kincaid. Despite Michael Mayer receiving first-round buzz, the Lions passed on the Notre Dame alum, leading him to the Raiders at No. 35. The Lions picked up the No. 34 pick from the Cardinals, who traded into Detroit’s No. 6 spot for Paris Johnson a night earlier. LaPorta topped 650 receiving yards in each of his final two Hawkeyes seasons, totaling 657 on 58 receptions in 2022. He earned first-team all-conference acclaim as a senior.

ESPN’s Scouts Inc. graded LaPorta as this year’s No. 43 overall prospect, which is in line with how NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah slotted him (42nd). The Lions paid little mind to pre-draft rankings in Round 1, taking Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 and LaPorta Iowa teammate Jack Campbell at No. 18. LaPorta was a bit more in step with consensus. The trio will be expected to make immediate contributions.

The Lions’ Hockenson trade — for a 2023 second-rounder and a 2024 third — cleared a path at tight end. Former UDFA Brock Wright remains on Detroit’s roster; the Notre Dame alum started 10 games last season. Gibbs and second-rounder Brian Branch are the only unsigned members of this Detroit draft class.

Chiefs Sign Round 2 WR Rashee Rice, Wrap Draft Class Deals

June 15th, 2023 at 12:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs are done with the rookie signing portion of their offseason, announcing an agreement with second-round pick Rashee Rice.

Choosing a receiver in Round 2 for the second straight year, the Chiefs will hope Rice can make an early impact. The team exited its minicamp Thursday with some questions at wide receiver, having lost J.J. Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman in free agency. Rice represents the defending Super Bowl champions’ top addition here.

Eyeing a more cost-conscious approach at receiver now that Patrick Mahomes‘ contract comes with high cap numbers annually, the Chiefs were not believed to have come too close on terms with Smith-Schuster before he bolted for New England on a three-year, $25.5MM deal ($16MM guaranteed). The team eyed a new Smith-Schuster deal this offseason, but the team’s second-leading pass catcher from 2022 is gone. Younger players are now supplementing Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Kansas City is expecting a jump from Kadarius Toney, now that the ex-Giants first-rounder is going through the offseason program with the Chiefs, and used a second-round choice on Skyy Moore last year. Moore did not make much of an impact as a rookie, though he emerged for two key playoff contributions — a pivotal fourth-quarter punt return in the AFC title game and a short Super Bowl touchdown grab — and should be expected to play more with Smith-Schuster and Hardman gone.

The Chiefs have been connected to DeAndre Hopkins, discussing the 10-year veteran with the Cardinals in a trade. But with the former All-Pro not wanting to take too much of a discount from his Cardinals deal — an issue during trade talks — Hopkins-Chiefs rumors have been scarce over the past several days.

Chosen 55th overall, Rice played a regular role for the past four SMU squads. Last season, however, the 204-pound wideout broke through for the American Athletic Conference school. Rice caught 96 passes for 1,355 yards and 10 TDs in 2022, ranking in the top five in Division I-FBS in receptions and yards. Still, ESPN’s Scouts Inc. viewed this pick as a considerable reach, having ranked Rice 124th as a prospect. The Chiefs did work on this draft’s first-round-caliber wideouts and were on the radar for a potential Zay Flowers or Jordan Addison trade-up, but Rice ended up being the player tabbed.

Here is the Chiefs’ seven-man draft class:

Round 1, No. 31: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE (Kansas State) (signed)
Round 2, No. 55 (from Vikings through Lions): Rashee Rice, WR (SMU) (signed)
Round 3, No. 92 (from Bengals): Wanya Morris, T (Oklahoma) (signed)
Round 4, No. 119 (from Lions through Vikings): Chamarri Conner, CB (Virginia Tech) (signed)
Round 5, No. 166: BJ Thompson, LB (Stephen F. Austin) (signed)
Round 6, No. 194 (from Lions): Keondre Coburn, DT (Texas) (signed)
Round 7, No. 250: Nic Jones, CB (Ball State) (signed)

Raiders Sign Second-Round TE Michael Mayer

June 14th, 2023 at 7:49pm CST by Ely Allen

The Raiders came one step closer to completing the signing of their 2023 rookie class today, announcing the signing of former Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, whom they drafted in the second round of this year’s draft.

After being named a Freshman All-American in 2020, Mayer followed his first college season up with two more stellar performances. In his final year with the Fighting Irish, Mayer was named a first-team All-American after leading all FBS tight ends with nine touchdown catches. He was the only FBS tight end to eclipse 800 receiving yards in each of the past two years, as well.

For much of the pre-draft process, Mayer was considered the top tight end on the board. While others may have projected higher as a large pass catcher, Mayer was easily viewed as the most well-rounded tight end prospect. Instead, he slid slightly down the board into the second round as the third tight end drafted, following Utah’s Dalton Kincaid (1st round, 25th pick by Buffalo) and Iowa’s Sam LaPorta (2nd round, 34th pick by Detroit).

Over his three years in South Bend, Mayer set program records for a tight end in receptions (180), receiving yards (2,099), and receiving touchdowns (18). With such recent successes as Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Eifert, Cole Kmet, and several others coming out of Notre Dame, that’s no small feat. Mayer is set to add to a tight end alumni group that rivals the success of schools like Iowa and Miami (FL).

In Las Vegas, Mayer should have a bit of time to adjust to the speed of the NFL game. The Raiders currently roster two experienced veterans in Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard, whom, together, can easily hold down the position until Mayer is NFL-ready. That’s if he needs any time at all. Given how quickly Mayer adjusted and became a major contributor at the college level, Mayer may be pushing for snaps by the season opener.

With Mayer’s contract in the books, the Raiders have signed eight of their nine draft selections. Only fourth-round Maryland cornerback Jakorian Bennett remains unsigned in Las Vegas’s rookie class.

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