Unsigned rookie contract cluster grows for 2026 NFL draft picks in rounds three and four

The 2026 NFL offseason has moved forward for most rookies, but contract negotiations have stalled for a concentrated group of early third- and fourth-round selections. As of early June, reports indicate that more than 90% of players drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft have signed their rookie contracts, leaving a smaller set of unsigned names. The remaining holdouts, however, are bunched at the top of two rounds rather than spread evenly throughout the class, a pattern that is drawing scrutiny from team executives as training camp approaches.

One report focused on the most prominent unsigned cluster from the top of the third round. The first six players selected in the third round are described as still unsigned: Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck, Broncos defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim, Raiders defensive end Keyron Crawford, Eagles tackle Markel Bell, Bears tight end Sam Roush, and 49ers edge rusher Romello Height. That is notable not just for the number of names, but for the mix of positions and the fact that each belongs to the group of earlier drafted players that typically sets the tone for what agents and front offices expect in negotiations.

A second cluster is described from the top of the fourth round, with the first seven selections in that round also reportedly unsigned. Those names include Raiders cornerback Jermond McCoy, Bills tackle Jude Bowry, Jets defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr., Cardinals defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor, Chargers wide receiver Brenen Thompson, Texans guard Febechi Nwaiwu, and 49ers defensive tackle Gracen Halton. In total, the report describes 13 players as making up the majority of the class members not yet under contract, suggesting that the negotiation slowdown is concentrated where future pay structures and precedent-setting provisions tend to be most contested.

The backdrop for the delay appears to be the contract provisions that flow down the draft. Bills general manager Brandon Beane, speaking on the team’s YouTube show, acknowledged that agents and players are encouraged by the players’ union to push what earlier-round groups received into the next wave of negotiations. Beane also said the fourth round, in the current CBA environment, has become more difficult than in prior years. He framed the decision-making as partially driven by timing and perception, noting that agents do not want to sign if the player “in front” has not, and that it can become an incentives-and-reputation cycle across the class.

Beane added that he understands why Bowry’s agent might wait to see what other fourth-round picks can secure, but he expects the situation to resolve before training camp. That expectation matters because unsigned rookies can complicate offseason programs and installation timelines, even if the ultimate total is small compared with the rest of the class. For teams, the practical issue is less about the long-term contract value and more about the day-to-day process of getting players into practice routines and meeting-specific expectations.

For now, the episode underscores a broader offseason reality for the 2026 class: the majority of draftees are signing normally, but negotiation leverage appears to be concentrated among early selections when precedent is fresh. With multiple teams represented across both clusters, the next development to watch is whether more players in the third and fourth rounds sign in sequence, effectively clearing precedent for those who remain unsigned, or whether the standoff persists into the early part of training camp windows.

As always, fans should treat unsigned-status reporting cautiously until the contracts are officially filed or the teams publicly confirm it. Still, the fact pattern reported, including the specific names and the Beane comments about the CBA’s effect on how leverage migrates between rounds, suggests the slowdown is not isolated. It is instead a coordinated negotiation dynamic that could influence how other late-signing rookies manage their timelines in the final stretch before the season’s work begins.