You’re likely aware that there’s been an intriguing storyline brewing around second-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft over the past few months. The Houston Texans made the unprecedented decision to sign No. 34 overall pick Jayden Higgins to a fully-guaranteed contract. Realizing they possessed no leverage, the Cleveland Browns followed suit with 33rd selection Carson Schwesinger.
Should the Titans be worried about a Femi Oladejo holdout?
Is a contract standoff coming between the Tennessee Titans and Femi Oladejo?
The other 30 second-round picks in the NFL remain unsigned, including Tennessee Titans rookie EDGE Femi Oladejo. The situation is beginning to reach a boiling point. Current CBA rules don’t allow rookies to physically participate in training camp if they haven’t signed their contracts.
The rubber is meeting the road around the league. The Los Angeles Chargers reported to training camp over the weekend. Their second-round pick, wide receiver Tre Harris, is officially holding out over guaranteed money, according to various reports.
Oladejo displayed a team-first attitude at OTAs and minicamp, but the situation is different now. Rookies are permitted to participate in offseason workouts without a signed contract, because there are injury protections in place. Training camp essentially serves as an unofficial deadline for rookie deals to get signed. That’s why Harris is holding out in L.A.
And Oladejo’s agent is likely driving the conversation in Nashville. No matter how much of a team-first attitude Oladejo has, he’ll expect, with advice from his agency, to sign a contract that is deemed fair by market standards. The market was completely thrown into disarray by the Texans (thanks, Houston!), leading to unprecedented negotiations.
Titans GM Mike Borgonzi would probably prefer to see a rookie contract around Oladejo’s slot (No. 52 overall) get done before taking his stance. Just because the 33rd and 34th selections got fully-guaranteed contracts doesn’t necessarily mean Oladejo will. Guarantees have always slightly differed pick to pick in previous years, but putting the fully-guaranteed variety on the table changed things.
For example, what do the 50th and 53rd pick get in guaranteed money? Borgonzi would love to have that example before signing Oladejo. The Titans are slated to report to training camp on July 22nd, with the first on-field practice scheduled for the 23rd. The Titans have less than two weeks to get Oladejo signed to avoid a distraction and holdout.
