The Green Bay Packers have not signed their second-round pick, offensive lineman Anthony Belton. They’re not alone. Here’s why.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – As of June 19, 2025, the Green Bay Packers have yet to sign their second-round draft pick, offensive lineman Anthony Belton, selected 54th overall in this year’s NFL Draft. Surprisingly, the Packers are not alone in this delay. With the exception of the first two picks, the entire second round of the 2025 NFL Draft remains unsigned, with rookies set to report for training camps in roughly a month. The reason behind this league-wide holdup is both unexpected and unprecedented, rooted in a contractual standoff that could reshape the landscape of rookie deals.
A Contractual Stalemate
Under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, rookie contracts are largely predetermined, with set values for each draft slot. For Belton, the 54th overall pick, his four-year contract is expected to be worth approximately $8.01 million, including a $2.466 million signing bonus. However, the sticking point isn’t the total value or the signing bonus—it’s the amount of guaranteed money, particularly in the later years of the contract.
The root of this delay traces back to the New Orleans Saints’ selection of quarterback Tyler Shough at No. 40 overall. Shough, seen as a potential starting quarterback, is reportedly pushing for his entire four-year contract to be fully guaranteed, a significant departure from the norm. Last year, the No. 40 pick, Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean, had his first three seasons fully guaranteed, plus a small portion of Year 4. Shough’s demand for a fully guaranteed four-year deal represents a seismic shift in the contractual landscape, one that could set a new precedent for the entire second round, including Belton’s contract with the Packers.
The Domino Effect
This push for more guaranteed money has created a league-wide waiting game. As one agent with an unsigned second-round pick explained to Packers On SI, “No one wants to look bad since it’d be setting a precedent, so that’s the issue. But someone’s deal will get done and then I’m sure it will start a domino effect.” The question is: who will blink first?
For context, last year’s 54th overall pick, Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Mike Hall, had his first two seasons fully guaranteed, with 35.2 percent of his third year guaranteed. Shough’s potential deal could raise the bar significantly, potentially increasing the guaranteed money for players drafted later in the round, like Belton. However, the situation becomes more complex as you move down the draft order. For instance, last year’s No. 41 pick, Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, had only 8.25 percent of his fourth year guaranteed. If Shough secures a fully guaranteed four-year deal, will the agent for this year’s No. 41 pick, Bills defensive tackle T.J. Sanders, demand similar terms? Or will they settle for a percentage closer to last year’s precedent? The Bills may argue that quarterbacks are an outlier position, while Sanders’ agent will likely push for parity.
This uncertainty has left teams and agents in a holding pattern, with no one eager to set the precedent. The Packers, led by respected negotiator Russ Ball, are unlikely to be the first to move. Ball’s reputation suggests he will wait for Shough’s deal to establish the new standard before finalizing Belton’s contract.
Time Is on Their Side—For Now
With training camps still a month away, there’s little urgency to resolve these negotiations immediately. As the agent noted, “It’ll all culminate into these deals getting done just before camp starts, I’m sure, when there’s pressure to get deals done.” The risk of a training camp holdout looms, but for now, both sides appear content to wait and see how the guaranteed money for Shough and Sanders shakes out.
Despite the contract delay, Belton has been a full participant in the Packers’ offseason practices, showcasing his athleticism and versatility. A starting left tackle at North Carolina State, Belton has been working primarily at right tackle during OTAs and minicamp. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich praised Belton’s movement skills, noting, “He’s a big guy but he moves really well. Just watching him in drills, I was really pleased with watching him move laterally and things like that.”
Packers offensive line coach Luke Butkus echoed this sentiment, highlighting Belton’s rare athleticism for a player of his size. “We really liked Anthony’s film at North Carolina State,” Butkus said. “During last year, I believe he was around 360-plus. He’s a little lighter now, but he was really athletic, and now it’s showing even more as he starts to shed some pounds. So, for a big man to be able to move like that, it’s pretty cool.” Belton’s coach at NC State went further, calling him a “freak athlete.”
The Bigger Picture
The delay in signing Belton and other second-round picks is not just about one player or one team—it’s about a potential shift in how rookie contracts are structured. If Shough secures a fully guaranteed four-year deal, it could pave the way for other players in the round to demand similar terms, significantly increasing the guaranteed money for players like Belton, particularly in Years 3 and 4 of their contracts. This would mark a major victory for players, pushing the contractual “bar” further in their favor.
For now, the Packers and Belton wait, as does the rest of the NFL’s second round. The resolution of Shough’s contract will likely trigger a cascade of signings, with Belton’s deal falling into place based on the new precedent. Until then, the secret behind the delay—a quarterback’s bold demand for a fully guaranteed contract—remains the unexpected factor holding up the process.