No Guaranteed Base Salary For Tyler Onyedim, And the NFL Is Still Drawing a Line in the Sand

Okay, so you heard it, right? We're a few weeks out from full-on camp, and the Broncos finally got their third-round pick, defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim, inked to a deal. This isn't just some ho-hum signing, though. This breaks a legit logjam of high third-rounders who've been waiting for their rookie contracts. But here's the kicker, the part that screams "welcome to the NFL" for these young guys: Onyedim's deal came with absolutely ZERO guaranteed base salary. Yeah, you read that right.

The Contract Battle Royale

This whole situation has been wild, man. For weeks, agents for these top third-round picks were battling it out, trying to get some guaranteed base salary for their guys. Think about it: you're a high draft pick, you expect a little security, right? But the teams, including the Broncos with Onyedim, were holding firm. They were only guaranteeing the signing bonus. Onyedim, the second player drafted in the third round, just signed a four-year, $7.38 million contract, and $1.8 million of that is his signing bonus. No guaranteed base beyond that. It's a tough pill to swallow, proving that teams aren't budging on rookie deals outside the very top tier. Just hours before Onyedim signed, the Raiders got their third-round pick, Keyron Crawford, done too. That's a clear signal to everyone else.

Who's Still Waiting in the Wings?

So now the q

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uestion is, who’s next to cave, or who's going to find a way to break this mold? The top third-round pick, Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck, is still out there without a deal. Imagine being a QB, the future of a franchise, and you're still in contract limbo in late June. Brutal. And he's not alone. Eagles offensive tackle Markel Bell, the fourth pick, remains unsigned. So do Bears tight end Sam Roush, the fifth pick, and the 49ers' edge rusher Romello Height, who was the sixth pick. These guys are missing valuable time, potentially falling behind, and it's all because the league is drawing a hard line. You gotta wonder if this stubbornness from teams will trickle down and affect how future drafts unfold, even for our own Seahawks as Brian Fleury and Mike Macdonald build this roster.

What's Next for the Unsigned Rookies?

This isn't just about a few guys in Denver or Vegas. This whole situation tells you a ton about the power dynamics in the NFL right now. These unsigned rookies, especially Carson Beck, Markel Bell, Sam Roush, and Romello Height, need to get into camp ASAP. Every day they're not signed is a day they're not learning the playbook, building chemistry, or earning their spot. You know how crucial every snap is once the regular season kicks off. Will we see more players sign for less-than-ideal terms, or will one of these holdouts finally force a team's hand? We'll be watching every move, because in this league, every dollar and every day counts.

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