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Seahawks Sign Second-Round TE Elijah Arroyo, Complete Draft Class Deals

July 18th, 2025 at 12:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last night, Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori became the third member of the 2025 draft class taken in the second round to secure a fully guaranteed rookie contract. Fellow Round 2 selection Elijah Arroyo has not managed to do the same, but he has signed with Seattle.

Arroyo signed his four-year, $8.81MM contract on Friday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes the pact contains $6.87MM in guarantees, meaning 78% of the deal is locked in. In the past two years, the No. 50 slot (where Arroyo was selected) has seen guarantees of 61.6% and 68.3%, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap.

This is, to no surprise, therefore a step in the direction of players taken in the middle of the second round receiving full guarantees down the road. That trend has emerged in recent days with much of the logjam created by 30 unsigned second-rounders being cleared in time (more or less) for training camp. Both Emmanwori and Arroyo will be in the fold by the time Seattle’s first camp practice takes place.

The 2025 draft class had a pair of tight ends seen as locks to be selected on Day 1; that wound up holding true in the case of Colston Loveland (Bears) and Tyler Warren (Colts). The next tier of prospects at the position included Arroyo, though, so it was no surprise when he came off the board with Seattle’s second pick of the round. The Miami product made only 11 catches across his first three years in college, but 2024 saw a major uptick in production. Arroyo posted a 35-590-7 statline during his one and only campaign playing with No. 1 pick Cam Ward.

The Seahawks will be banking on that performance translating to the NFL. Seattle still has Noah Fant in place for 2025, but the coming season is the final one of his contract. Arroyo could carve out a part-time role during his rookie campaign before stepping into a starting spot in the event Fant were to depart in free agency next spring. In any case, it will be interesting to see how that tandem fares this year.

Here is a final look at Seattle’s draft class with each member now on the books:

  • Round 1, No. 18: Grey Zabel (OL, North Dakota State) (signed)
  • Round 2, No. 35 (from Titans): Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina) (signed)
  • Round 2, No. 50: Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami) (signed)
  • Round 3, No. 92 (from Lions through Jets and Raiders): Jalen Milroe (QB, Alabama) (signed)
  • Round 5, No. 142 (from Jaguars through Texans and Vikings): Rylie Mills (DT, Notre Dame) (signed)
  • Round 5, No. 166 (from Bills through Texans): Tory Horton (WR, Colorado State) (signed)
  • Round 5, No. 175*: Robbie Ouzts (TE, Alabama) (signed)
  • Round 6, No. 192 (from Dolphins through Bears): Bryce Cabeldue (G, Kansas) (signed)
  • Round 7, No. 223 (from Saints through Eagles and Steelers): Damien Martinez (RB, Miami) (signed)
  • Round 7, No. 234: Mason Richman (T, Iowa) (signed)
  • Round 7, No. 238 (from Chargers through Patriots)*: Ricky White (WR, UNLV) (signed)

Jets, Second-Round TE Mason Taylor Agree To Terms

July 18th, 2025 at 10:36am CST by Adam La Rose

Tight end Mason Taylor is the latest second-round rookie to agree to terms on their rookie deal. He and the Jets have an agreement in place ahead of training camp.

Taylor’s four-year deal is worth $10.46MM. Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports that $9.56MM (or 91.4%) of that figure is guaranteed. As a result, Taylor will not join the first three players selected on Day 2 in securing a fully locked in pact. Nevertheless, the No. 42 pick will receive a considerable commitment in terms of guarantees.

Over the past two years, players taken in that slot received guarantees of 77.1% and 78.7%, per Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald. This Taylor agreement is a major step in the direction of a fully locked in deal, and like in the case of many other second-round draft slots, it will no doubt serve as precedent moving forward for more guarantees. In any event, Taylor will be in place when the Jets’ rookies report to camp tomorrow.

A three-year contributor at LSU, Taylor was a productive member of the team’s pass-catching group. His junior campaign was his best, with 546 yards on 55 receptions. The two touchdowns scored that year brought his career total to six, and operating as a red zone target would be key in allowing Taylor to contribute right away with the Jets. Even if that is not the case, though, he should be able to handle at least a part-time role on offense.

Finding production from the TE position has proven to be a challenge in recent years for the Jets, a team which has wideout Garrett Wilson in place through 2030. He will serve as the anchor of New York’s passing game during that span, but finding complementary options will be key. Taylor – who will spend camp competing for playing time with the likes of Jeremy Ruckeret and Stone Smartt – should feature in that effort over the coming years.

With the Taylor deal done, here is a complete look at the Jets’ draft class:

Bills Sign Second-Round DT T.J. Sanders, Complete Draft Class Deals

July 18th, 2025 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Like many other teams around the NFL, the Bills have their entire draft class on the books. Second-rounder T.J. Sanders has signed his rookie deal.

Sanders’ four-year pact is worth $10.65MM, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes $10.07MM of that figure is guaranteed. The No. 41 slot (where Sanders was selected in April) has seen guarantee rates of 77.9% and 79.5% over the past two years, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap. Sanders has not joined the three second-round picks who have received full guarantees on their rookie deals, but this is clearly a step forward in terms of locked in compensation deep into the pact.

Over the course of his career at South Carolina, Sanders emerged as a key figure on defense. Between his redshirt sophomore and junior campaigns, he totaled 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. That disruptiveness against the pass and run made Sanders one of several highly-regarded defensive tackle prospects in the 2025 class.

Buffalo expectedly targeted the secondary in the first round of the draft (taking cornerback Maxwell Hairston), but the team focused heavily on the defensive front through the middle portion of the event. The Sanders selection was followed by the addition of edge rusher Landon Jackson in the third round and fellow D-lineman Deone Walker in the fourth. The Bills’ defensive front could look noticeably different in the near future as a result, and Sanders in particular will be counted on to occupy at least a rotational role early in his career.

Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones served as full-time starters along the defensive interior last season, and they remain in place entering 2025. The Bills also have 2024 third-rounder DeWayne Carter in the fold, and after logging a 42% snap share as a rookie he figures to play a notable role this season. Sanders should nevertheless be able to contribute on a part-time basis in 2025 as he develops into a potential starter down the line.

With every member now under contract, here is a final look at Buffalo’s 2025 draft class:

Steelers, T.J. Watt Agree To Extension

July 17th, 2025 at 10:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

The wait has ended for T.J. Watt and the Steelers to work out an extension. Team and player have agreed to terms on another monster pact.

Watt has landed a three-year, $123MM extension, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The pact includes $108MM in full guarantees. With an average annual value of $41MM, Watt has once again claimed the title of the league’s top earner for defensive players and all non-quarterbacks.

Myles Garrett reset the edge rush market when he signed a Browns pact averaging $40MM per year. Ja’Marr Chase did the same at the receiver position when his Bengals extension (carrying an AAV of $40.25MM) became official. To little surprise, Watt has surpassed both of those figures while helping to ensure he will finish his career in Pittsburgh. Progress has been made rather rapidly, as Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show notes no agreement was imminent as recently as six days ago.

Both parties in this case expressed a desire to work out a deal months ago, but Watt hinted at dissatisfaction with the early state of contract talks. Over time, this became one of many tense situations involving edge rushers around the league. A major domino has now fallen, though, and Watt is on the books through 2028. This agreement falls short of the length he was seeking, but the former Defensive Player of the Year has succeeded in moving the bar for pass rushers and securing multiple years of locked in money.

Watt has led the NFL in sacks on three occasions (2021-22 and 2024) and he has played in every game the past two seasons after a pec tear cost him notable time in 2023. However, a downturn in play late in the campaign and into the postseason last year was viewed as cause for concern on the Steelers’ part regarding a new deal. Watt already reset the market in 2021, but doing so as he enters his age-31 season obviously carries risk for the team. General manager Omar Khan and Co. are certainly banking on a major drop-off not taking place for several more years.

Watt has operated as the anchor of Pittsburgh’s EDGE group over the course of his All-Pro career, and he will remain in that role well beyond the coming season. Rumors about a potential trade circulated amidst his decision to skip minicamp, but a deal never seemed likely or imminent. A holdout (or at least hold-in) effort during training camp will now not be necessary to get this deal over the finish line, something which was the case last time for Watt.

Alex Highsmith has recorded at least six sacks in each of the past four years, and he remains on the books through 2027. He will remain a starter along the edge, with Nick Herbig and fourth-round rookie Jack Sawyer operating as rotational contributors. Watt (who has amassed 33 forced fumbles and 126 tackles for loss in his career) will be counted on to lead the way in terms of production once again this year and well beyond that point.

The seven-time Pro Bowler has yet to win a playoff game in his career, something Khan and the Steelers have aimed to change this offseason. Pittsburgh has aggressively pursued several new players through trade and free agency, breaking with standard practice in some regards. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, receiver D.K. Metcalf, cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay as well as tight end Jonnu Smith are among the new faces which will be relied on to end the Steelers’ drought for playoff wins in 2025.

Watt will of course also be a central figure in that effort. Regardless of if things go according to plan this year, though, he will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Cowboys Agree To Terms With Second-Round DE Donovan Ezeiruaku

July 17th, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Ben Levine

Another second-round pick has been signed. The Cowboys have agreed to terms with second-round defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

As second-round picks around the NFL have pushed for guaranteed deals, Ezeiruaku got part of the way there. Per Garafolo, the rookie got 38 percent of the fourth year of his rookie pact guaranteed. Based on recent deals, we can assume a large portion of the first three seasons of the player’s contract were also guaranteed.

Ezeiruaku is coming off a standout career at Boston College, although he took his play to another level in 2024. The pass rusher finished this past year with 80 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 16.5 sacks. That performance earned him a number of accolades, including the Ted Hendricks Award, which is awarded annually to the nation’s top defensive end.

The pass rusher didn’t have to wait too long to hear his name called, as the Cowboys used the 44th-overall pick on the edge rusher. The rookie will be joining a deep DEs grouping that’s already led by Micah Parsons and Dante Fowler, although Ezeiruaku could eventually carve out playing time ahead of Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland.

With the signing, the Cowboys have now inked their entire draft class to rookie contracts:

Seahawks, Second-Round S Nick Emmanwori Agree To Fully Guaranteed Deal

July 17th, 2025 at 9:30pm CST by Ben Levine

While many of the second-round picks who signed their rookie contracts today had to settle for partially guaranteed deals, Nick Emmanwori has reportedly gotten his way. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the rookie safety and the Seahawks have agreed to terms on a fully guaranteed rookie deal. The deal is worth $11.6MM.

Per Schefter, this is the first time in history that the 35th-overall pick has received a fully guaranteed rookie contract. The 35th pick in 2024, Falcons defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, got 88.1-percent of his deal guaranteed. That was an increase from the 35th pick in the 2023 draft, Raiders tight end Michael Mayer, who got 82.7 percent of his contract guaranteed.

Emmanwori had three standout years at South Carolina, but he took his play to another level in 2024. He finished this past season with 88 tackles and four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. For his efforts, he earned first-team All-SEC and All-American honors.

The Seahawks traded up to select the safety early in the second round of the draft, and they’ll be counting on the rookie to contribute in 2025. Coby Bryant emerged as a starter next to Julian Love, and the duo is expected to lead the depth chart next season. However, with Rayshawn Jenkins no longer in the picture, Emmanwori should have plenty of opportunities for playing time, especially if Bryant struggles to maintain his play from 2024.

From a financial standpoint, the guaranteed deal certainly sets a new precedent for the draft slot, and it could influence unsigned second-round picks who were selected around Emmanwori. Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger and Texans wideout Jayden Higgins, the two second-round picks selected ahead of the safety, have already signed their deals.

The Seahawks now have one unsigned second-round pick to deal with in Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo.

Raiders Agree To Terms With Second-Round WR Jack Bech

July 17th, 2025 at 8:55pm CST by Ben Levine

Following the lead of many other teams around the league, the Raiders have finally agreed to a deal with their second-round pick. According to Tashan Reed of The Athletic, the Raiders agreed to terms with wideout Jack Bech.

While sixth-overall pick Ashton Jeanty has garnered much of the focus in Las Vegas, Bech also brings plenty of upside to the offense. The receiver burst onto the scene in 2024, his second season at TCU. Bech finished last season with 62 catches for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns, and he earned the Senior Bowl MVP after hauling in the game-winning touchdown.

Thanks to that breakout performance, Bech was a Day 2 pick by the Raiders, with the organization using the 58th-overall pick on the receiver. In Las Vegas, he should have an immediate chance to contribute on an uncertain offense, although there’s no guarantee that he’s even the top rookie receiver on his squad.

Last month, we heard that rookie fourth-round pick Dont’e Thornton Jr. was pushing hard for a starting spot next to Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker. That would leave Bech competing for any leftover reps with the likes of free agent acquisition Collin Johnson and rookie sixth-round pick (and former QB) Tommy Mellott.

With the signing, the Raiders have completed their draft pick signings:

NFL Minor Transactions: 7/17/25

July 17th, 2025 at 8:08pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: OT Ryan Nelson

Seattle Seahawks

Jaguars Sign LB Jack Kiser, Complete Draft Class Signings

July 17th, 2025 at 7:44pm CST by Ben Levine

While much of the focus today has been on the signings of second-round picks, there was one fourth-round pick who remained unsigned…until now. The Jaguars announced that they have inked fourth-round linebacker Jack Kiser to his rookie deal, a move that wraps up their rookie class signings.

While the unsigned second-round picks have been pushing for more guaranteed money, it’s uncertain why Kiser was the lone holdout from the fourth round. The 107th pick in this year’s draft, the Notre Dame product finished his college career with a career-high 90 tackles in 2024.

While the Jaguars will naturally have higher hopes for the rookie, Kiser was a special teams standout in college, so he should have an immediate impact on that unit in 2025. He should also see some reps on defense, although he’ll have to compete with a number of his teammates (including fellow rookie Jalen McLeod) for playing time.

With the signing, the Jaguars have officially signed their entire 2025 draft class:

Chargers Agree To Terms With Second-Round WR Tre Harris

July 17th, 2025 at 7:11pm CST by Ben Levine

While Tre Harris was one of many second-round picks to remain unsigned through mid-July, the rookie made headlines when he was a no-show during the start of Chargers training camp. Well, the unofficial holdout is over, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the rookie wideout has agreed to terms on his rookie deal.

Harris spent three seasons at Louisiana Tech to begin his college career, including a 2022 campaign where he compiled 935 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He maintained that production after transferring to Ole Miss ahead of the 2023 season. In 20 games across the past two campaigns, the wideout hauled in 114 catches for 2,015 yards and 15 touchdowns.

That performance wasn’t enough to vault him into the first round, but he still managed to be the seventh WR off the board when the Chargers selected him with the 55th-overall pick in this year’s draft. The recent holdout meant Harris’s NFL career didn’t get off to the best start, but since he wasn’t under contract, he won’t be subject to any fines from the organization.

Harris should immediately have an opportunity to contribute in Los Angeles. The team has used early-round picks at the WR position in each of the past three drafts, and the rookie should join Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston in the starting lineup. Harris should also have a bit less competition for that gig following Mike Williams‘ sudden retirement, a move that left the Chargers with the likes of Jalen Reagor, Derius Davis, and rookie fifth-round pick KeAndre Lambert-Smith as depth options.

Like most teams, the Chargers’ second-round selection represented their only unsigned draft pick. With today’s move, the team has officially signed their entire 2025 draft class:

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