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The NFL has an epidemic of unsigned second-round picks. The Steelers haven’t had that problem.
The second round of the 2025 NFL Draft has been a nightmare for general managers ahead of training camp.
It’s July 13, and only two of the 32 picks have signed their rookie contracts so far.
The only second-rounders signed are the Nos. 33 and 34 picks, the Browns’ Carson Schwesinger and the Texans’ Jayden Higgins, who each agreed to fully-guaranteed deals in May.
That’s reportedly been the cause of this year’s second-round contract rift between teams and players, with league offices remaining unwilling to hand out similar deals to their Day 2 picks.
Chargers wide receiver Tre Harris, the No. 55 pick in the draft, has become the first to start a training camp holdout; Los Angeles’ rookies were supposed to report to training camp July 12.
However, the Steelers are one of the few NFL teams that have missed the drama entirely. As part of the team’s trade for wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, Pittsburgh sent its 2025 second-round pick, No. 52 overall, to the Seahawks.
That isn’t to say the Steelers saved money or have avoided contract drama this offseason. Pittsburgh handed Metcalf a four-year, $132 million contract following the trade, making him the fourth-highest paid receiver in the league. And ahead of training camp, four-time All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt has yet to report to team activities this offseason as he hopes for a lucrative extension.
However, the Steelers had no problem signing their draft picks this season. The team signed six of its seven draft picks on May 9, and the last, first-rounder Derrick Harmon, 13 days later. Harmon’s four-year, $17.9 million deal is fully guaranteed.