49ers 2nd-rounder agrees to deal, NFL-wide chain reaction likely to follow

49ers 2nd-rounder agrees to deal, NFL-wide chain reaction likely to follow
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Alfred Collins’ contract should result in many other second-rounders agreeing to terms imminently, including at least one of the Seahawks’ two remaining unsigned rookies.

At long last, a third player from the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft has signed. And unlike the previous two, his contract is not fully guaranteed.

The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly signed No. 43 overall pick and former Texas defensive lineman Alfred Collins to the standard rookie contract, but any thoughts about a new precedent being set across the board for all second-rounders can be put to rest.

The only reason this is a news item and even loosely related to the Seahawks is because of the nearly complete standstill the NFL was in regarding signing their second-rounders. Prior to Collins, the only second-round picks under contract were Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins and the Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger. While Collins has about 90 percent of his contract guaranteed, it ain’t 100 percent like it is for Higgins and Schwesinger, which turned otherwise routine negotiations into a blinking game to see who would make the next move. Turns out it was the 49ers.

Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (No. 35 overall) is the next highest unsigned second-round draft choice, so there may yet be a developing story in terms of players above Collins in the order. Elijah Arroyo (No. 50 overall) and anyone else below Collins figures to be more likely than not to come to terms on a non-fully guaranteed contract. Perhaps Los Angeles Chargers rookie receiver Tre Harris (No. 55 overall) may be ending his training camp holdout soon.

Our national nightmare of talking about minute rookie contract details is almost over, folks.