This offseason, Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio set a precedent. Now, the rest of the league is feeling the heat, just as predicted. Caserio gave Texans rookie second-round draft pick Jayden Higgins a four-year, $11.7 million contract.
That is not particularly noteworthy. Rookie contracts pay according to draft slot.
However, Caserio gave Higgins a fully guaranteed contract. The former Iowa State Cyclone is the first second-round pick to receive such a concession from a team.
Higgins is one of two second-rounders who are under contract as training camps have begun, leading one prospect, Tre Harris of the Los Angeles Chargers, to hold out, and others possibly following suit.
“These days, signing bonuses and salaries for rookie draft picks are slotted according to their overall selection number,” 9News’ Mike Florio 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.
“That precedent bulged the eyes and raised the eyebrows of agents representing the other second-round draft picks.”
Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, taken No. 33 overall, one slot before the Texans selected Higgins, is the only other second-round pick who has signed his rookie contract, leaving 30 of 32 selections made during Round 2 in limbo for training camp.
Despite having Higgins’ situation resolved, the Texans are not out of the woods yet.
Texans Face Uncertainty With $9 Million Trade Pickup After Jayden Higgins Decision
GettyAireontae Ersery OL#13 of Minnesota goes through a drill during the 2025 NFL Draft Combine
The Texans took Higgins at No. 34 and traded up for the No. 48 overall pick, using it on offensive lineman Aireontae Ersery. He could compete for a starting spot in training camp when he is eligible to participate.
Ersery is due a four-year, $9.2 million contract under the current rookie scale, per Spotrac.
He is part of a revamped Texans offensive line that is expected to protect C.J. Stroud better after the 2023 No. 2 overall pick absorbed 52 sacks in 2024.
Moreover, Ersery and his fellow unsigned second-rounders may be fighting a losing battle.
“The obvious question becomes how long will these holdouts last? The better question may be this: Why did the second-round picks take so long to take a stand?,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote on July 13. “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.
“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 running back Quinshon Judkins (No. 36 overall) was arrested on domestic violence charges on July 12 and could be the first to accept less than a fully guaranteed contract.
That could have a ripple effect on Ersery and the Texans in the wake of Higgins’ deal.
Texans Laremy Tunsil Trade Revisited
GettyLaremy Tunsil #78 of the Houston Texans takes to the field before a game against the Tennessee Titans.
Higgins will also compete for a starting role, but Ersery faces a more complicated path. He faces a slew of experienced veterans in front of him at every spot along the starting offensive line. Free agent signing Cam Robinson at left tackle and holdover Tytus Howard at guard are among them.
That uncertainty offers a reminder that the Texans put themselves on this path. They traded Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders this offseason.
Tunsil earned the No. 7 spot on ESPN’s top-10 offensive tackles list.
Tunsil has long performed like a top-five tackle on our list, but miscues and the Texans’ offensive line struggles hurt his case this time around. He has three consecutive seasons of committing at least 10 penalties, including 19 in 2024, according to NFLPenalties.com,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on July 13.
“Evaluators still love his combination of footwork, agility and violence – and so did the Washington Commanders, who acquired Tunsil and a fourth-round pick in March in exchange for a package of Day 2 and 3 picks.”
An anonymous “personnel director” noted the Commanders believe in Tunsil’s talent, explaining why they made the trade. However, they also questioned Tunsil’s “mental strength.”
The Texans drafted Higgins’ college teammate, Jaylin Noel, with a pick they received for Tunsil.
They traded another and still have second and fourth-round picks coming over in 2026. If Ersery pans out, particularly at left tackle, the Texans would position themselves to argue that parting with Tunsil when they did was the right decision.
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