No Guaranteed Base Salary for Broncos' Tyler Onyedim, and Seahawks Fans Need to See Why

Okay, Emerald City, listen up! While our Seahawks are gearing up for what's gonna be a killer season, some low-key drama just went down in the AFC West, and trust me, it's something every 12 needs to be paying attention to. We just saw the Denver Broncos lock up their third-round pick, defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim, to his rookie deal on Sunday night. Big deal, right? Rookie gets paid. But here's the kicker: this contract, and the ripple effect it's already having, tells us *a lot* about how these teams are playing hardball with draft picks, and what that could mean for our guys down the road. The logjam for third-round picks is finally breaking, but not without some serious negotiations.

The Rookie Contract Standoff is Real

Let's talk about the money, because that's where the real story is. Onyedim, who was the second player taken in the third round, inked a four-year deal worth $7.38 million, including a hefty $1.8 million signing bonus. Sounds good, right? Plenty of cash. But according to Luca Evans from the *Denver Post*, the dude got *zero* guaranteed base salary on that deal. Let that sink in. This isn't just a random contract quirk. This is the culmination of agents pushing hard for guaranteed base salary for these high third-rounders, and teams, including the Broncos, holding firm. They're basically saying, "Nope, your signing bonus is it for guarantees." We just saw the Raiders snag Keyron Crawford, the third overall third-round pick, just hour

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s before Onyedim signed, meaning the dam is finally bursting on these holdouts, but the terms are set.

Who Else Is Waiting on the Money?

This contract trend is a big deal across the league, and it spotlights the ongoing battle between players, their agents, and the teams. The top third-round pick, Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck, is *still* without a deal. Think about that: the first guy off the board in the third round hasn't signed, while the second and third picks just agreed to deals with no guaranteed base salary beyond the bonus. That’s a massive negotiation point. Plus, we've still got the fourth, fifth, and sixth third-rounders out there waiting: Eagles offensive tackle Markel Bell, Bears tight end Sam Roush, and 49ers edge rusher Romello Height. Every one of these guys is watching what Onyedim and Crawford signed, and it's putting immense pressure on their agents. So, what's next? Every other unsigned rookie, especially in that third round, is now facing the same cold, hard fact: teams are not budging on guaranteed base salary. It means the focus shifts entirely to that signing bonus as the only guaranteed cash. For us Seahawks fans, it's a peek behind the curtain at the financial chess match happening in the NFL. We gotta keep an eye on how this plays out for those remaining unsigned picks, because it’s a precedent for how every team, including our own, approaches future contracts with their draft picks. Get ready for more fireworks, because these negotiations are far from over, and every dollar matters for our team's future flexibility.

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