By Ross Jackson
While the New Orleans Saints have not yet signed quarterback Tyler Shough to his second-round rookie contract, there should be no cause for concern for fans.
It sounds like a bad situation on the surface. Why wouldn’t a team be able to sign a player to a previously scaled deal? This year in particular, there’s a very good reason. And the Saints’ situation is far from unique.
Per Michael Ginnitti, co-founder of Spotrac, only two second-round picks have been signed.
- No. 33 overall pick and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Carson Schwesinger
- No. 34 overall pick and Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins
The reason no additional second-round picks have signed their deals is because both Schwesinger and Higgins received fully guaranteed contracts, both of which are firsts for second-rounders in NFL history.
The Saints’ second-round selection and quarterback Tyler Shough may have to wait until after picks No. 35-39 have signed their deals so that a precedent is set for the range of selections that get fully-guaranteed deals.
It will likely take time for everything to shake out. But the Saints’ not having yet signed Shough to his new deal shouldn’t be seen as a concern. The NFL is simply shifting its entire landscape of the round of selections.
