All articles tagged with #rookie contract
The Philadelphia Eagles signed tight end Eli Stowers, their No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, to a four-year rookie contract, making him the sixth 2026 draftee to sign. Markel Bell remains unsigned but can participate in spring workouts, with training-camp timing in late July as the deadline.
The Cardinals gave running back Jeremiyah Love a four-year, $53 million fully guaranteed rookie contract—the largest guarantee for a running back in NFL history—because he was the third overall pick. rookie deals are driven by draft position, not position on the field, so the deal reflects his draft slot. His average annual value is about $13.25 million (seventh among RBs), and his future contract value will be market-driven when/if the Cardinals offer another deal.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love signed a four-year, $53 million rookie contract with the Arizona Cardinals, the most guaranteed money ever for a running back, making him the highest-drafted RB in Cardinals history as he heads into rookie minicamp and joins a backfield led by James Conner, Trey Benson and Tyler Allgeier.
Jets sign No. 2 overall pick David Bailey to a rookie contract. Bailey, a standout pass rusher who posted 14.5 sacks and 19.5 TFL in 2025 and earned All-American honors, was praised by coach Aaron Glenn for his first-step quickness and power rush; the Jets’ staff also has familiarity with Bailey from Stanford days, making him a key addition to upgrade their pass rush.
The Arizona Cardinals signed their first-round pick Jeremiyah Love to a four-year contract worth just over $53 million guaranteed, the most guaranteed money for a running back under current contracts, with a fifth-year option; Love, who led Notre Dame in rushing and offensive touchdowns in his final two college seasons, is expected to play a major role in Arizona’s offense from the start.
The Browns signed No. 9 overall OT Spencer Fano to his rookie contract, highlighted in NFL’s Friday roundup of offseason signings across teams.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs signed a four-year, $28.9 million fully guaranteed rookie contract with the Dallas Cowboys after being drafted 11th overall, part of a record first-round haul for Ohio State; he’s expected to start at safety this season, potentially alongside Malik Hooker, as Dallas’ trade-up paid off.
Makai Lemon, the No. 20 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, signed a four-year, roughly $20.8 million fully guaranteed rookie contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, including an $11.5 million signing bonus. The USC receiver was selected after Philly traded up over the Steelers; he posted 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. The Eagles have added Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks this offseason, with a potential A.J. Brown trade after June 1.
Bengals rookie pass rusher Shemar Stewart has signed his first NFL contract after a negotiation stalemate, expressing relief and excitement to join the team and start training camp.
The Cincinnati Bengals have finally signed first-round pick Shemar Stewart to a four-year rookie deal after resolving contract disputes over default language and signing bonus adjustments, making him the last unsigned first-rounder this year. The team agreed to modify the language to satisfy Stewart, who had been holding out and not practicing, and also increased his signing bonus and camp bump. This concludes a notable negotiation chapter for rookie contracts, with Stewart now set to develop in Cincinnati's defense amidst ongoing team challenges.
Shemar Stewart, the 17th overall pick in the NFL draft, has agreed to his rookie contract with the Bengals after initially refusing to sign due to contract language concerns, in exchange for a higher signing bonus. Stewart, a defensive end from Texas A&M, is expected to make an immediate impact for the Bengals' defense.
Cardinals second-round pick Will Johnson is expected to sign his rookie contract before the start of training camp, joining most of the league's second-rounders who have already signed, leaving only two unsigned 2025 draft picks.
Bengals team president Mike Brown criticized the delay in signing rookie Shemar Stewart, citing a dispute over contract language related to conduct detrimental to the team, which has prevented Stewart from signing and participating in training camp. Meanwhile, negotiations are ongoing for veteran Trey Hendrickson's long-term deal, with optimism about reaching an agreement.
The Cincinnati Bengals have all their rookies reporting for training camp except first-round pick Shemar Stewart, who remains unsigned due to contract negotiations over bonus structure and guaranteed money clauses, with Stewart's agent and team still in talks.
The Cincinnati Bengals signed second-round pick Demetrius Knight to a four-year rookie contract with nearly 80% guaranteed at signing, marking a historic NFL first for guarantees extending into year four. Knight, a linebacker with a diverse college background and impressive 2024 stats, is now set to join the team's training camp.