No Guaranteed Base Salary for Tyler Onyedim? The NFL's Third-Round Contract Holdout Just CRUMBLED.

Holy smokes, Seattle, can you believe this? After weeks of what felt like a total standstill, the NFL's rookie contract logjam for third-round picks is finally, *actually* breaking. For real, it’s happening! Late Sunday night, the Broncos locked up their defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim, who was the second player taken in the third round. And get this, it came just hours after the Raiders snagged Keyron Crawford, their third-round pick. This is a massive relief for those teams, but also a huge signal for the rest of the league.

The Big Standoff: Teams Held Firm and It Paid Off

So, what exactly went down with Onyedim's deal? The Broncos signed him to a four-year contract worth a cool $7.38 million. He also got a sweet $1.8 million signing bonus, which is definitely a nice chunk of change for a rookie. But here’s the kicker, the part that probably makes every agent in the league groan: Onyedim's deal has *no guaranteed base salary*. Yep, you read that right. Zero. Nada. According to Luca Evans from the Denver Post, that money isn’t guaranteed for him beyond the bonus. This is huge, folks. We’ve been hearing whispers for weeks that the delay in signing these high third-rounders was all about agents trying to strong-arm teams into guaranteeing some base salary. And honestly, who can blame them? Rookies want that security. But the teams, including the Broncos, absolutely held their ground. They were firm, sayi

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ng the only guaranteed cash for third-round picks would be the signing bonus. And guess what? It worked. This is a major win for the front offices and could totally set the precedent for future rookie deals across the league.

Who's Still Waiting for Their Deal?

Even with the Broncos and Raiders getting their guys inked, there are still some big names from the top of the third round who are stuck in limbo. The top third-round pick, Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck, is still unsigned. Imagine being the top guy and watching others sign before you! Plus, we’ve got the Eagles' offensive tackle Markel Bell, who was the fourth pick, still waiting. Then there's the Bears' tight end Sam Roush, taken fifth, and the 49ers' edge rusher Romello Height, the sixth pick, who are also both still unsigned. You know these guys are itching to get into camp and prove themselves. Every day without a contract is a day they’re not officially part of the team, not getting those reps, not learning the playbook. With Onyedim and Crawford finally getting their deals done, the pressure is really on for the rest of these holdouts to accept similar terms. The teams have shown they won't budge on that guaranteed base salary, and now the agents know it. It's going to be wild to see how quickly these remaining third-rounders fall into line. Getting these young talents on the field is critical for all these teams as they ramp up for what's sure to be an insane NFL season. Keep an eye on those headlines, 12s, because this story isn't over yet!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.