The Denver Broncos will open training camp for rookies on July 16, with the team’s veterans reporting six days later. However, it is “eyes on” whether or not the Broncos will have second-round pick RJ Harvey in the mix, according to 9News’ Mike Klis.
Harvey is one of 30 second-round draft picks who remain unsigned as training camp approaches around the league.
The biggest question is whether Harvey will follow through on the next step in the trend.
“Harvey is caught up in a league-wide, second-round quagmire where the twisted issue centers around guaranteed money,” Klis wrote on July 13. “That guaranteed portion is now in dispute for not only Harvey but all second-round picks in the most recent NFL Draft. Credit, or blame, the Houston Texans. They gave their second-round draft pick, No. 34 overall, receiver Jayden Higgins, a 100% full guarantee on his four-year, $11.7 million contract.
“That precedent bulged the eyes and raised the eyebrows of agents representing the other second-round draft picks.”
Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, selected one slot ahead of Higgins with the first pick in Round 2, signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $11.8 million deal and is the only other second-round pick who is under contract.
Los Angeles Chargers rookie Tre Harris is the first to skip the start of his team’s training camp.
Harvey is in line for a four-year, $7.3 million contract, per Spotrac, and Klis noted he is due a $4 million signing bonus with that.
RJ Harvey in Similar Spot as Former Broncos 2nd-Round Pick
GettyRJ Harvey #7 of the UCF Golden Knights runs the ball against the Florida Gators.
Harvey is in a noteworthy spot with the Broncos, since every player that inks a deal in the mold of Higgins and Schwesinger’s will set a precedent for their draft slot.
However, the Broncos have experience with similar situations.
“Broncos’ second-round draft pick Drew Lock had a training camp holdout that lasted hours, not days, in 2019. He finished strong and was considered the team’s franchise QB entering his second season of 2020,” Klis wrote. “Then COVID hit.”
However, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio pointed out the timing of the rookie class’ decision could work against them.
“The second-round picks should have held out earlier. At a minimum, they should have collectively skipped mandatory minicamp. Instead, all of them signed participation agreements and showed up for work despite not being employed, throughout the offseason program,” Florio wrote on July 13. “So now they’re going to stay away?
“The teams may not take it seriously. They’ll count on players caving so that they can get ready for the season, accepting less-than-100-percent guarantees in order to get to work. And any such deals coming later in the round will set the parameters for the rest of the round.”
Browns second-rounder Quinshon Judkins (No. 36 overall) was also arrested on July 12.
Florio posits that Judkins could be the first player to cave on the decision to push for a fully guaranteed contract, and that that could impact the prospects selected behind him.
Broncos Have Other Draft Pick Concerns
GettyJahdae Barron #7 of the Texas Longhorns reacts against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl.
Unfortunately for the Broncos, Harvey is not their only unsigned draft pick, with first-round pick Jahdae Barron also not under contract as training camp approaches.
What makes Barron’s situation even more notable is that he is the only first-round pick who remains unsigned at this point in the NFL calendar. Like Harvey, Broncos head coach Sean Payton has significant plans in mind for Barron.
Barron is in line for a four-year, $18 million deal. First-round contracts are fully guaranteed.
With Harvey, the Broncos have incumbent options with more experience, and they signed veteran J.K. Dobbins in free agency. Barron’s situation is similar, but the Broncos need both.
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