Detroit Lions Tate Ratledge CONTRACT HOLDOUT!
Likely To Miss The Start Of Training Camp - How 30 Second Round Rookies Are Holding NFL Training Camps Hostage - Including Detroit Lions' Tate Ratledge
NFL Second-Round Contract Stalemate: Training Camps Loom
As NFL teams gear up for mid-July training camps, a striking 30 of the 32 second-round picks from the 2025 draft remain unsigned. Only Cleveland’s linebacker Carson Schwesinger (33rd overall) and Houston’s receiver Jayden Higgins (34th overall) have secured fully guaranteed deals—an unprecedented benchmark that has frozen negotiations league-wide. In Detroit, guard Tate Ratledge (57th overall) sits out as rookies report July 16, leaving the Lions to wonder how his absence might ripple through Allen Park.
Contract Standoff
Ari Meirov nails the trigger point:
“It all started when Jayden Higgins got a fully guaranteed contract. Then Carson Schwesinger did the same. Since then, zero second rounders have signed. Agents are now demanding full guarantees before anyone blinks.”
That binary shift—two picks with full guarantees, thirty without—has put every team and agent on edge.
Shifting Market / Basis Of Argument For Round 2 Deals
The recent signings of Higgins and Schwesinger have created a ripple effect across the league. The market for rookie contracts, particularly for second-round picks, is evolving. NFL Franchises, including the Lions, appear hesitant to adopt this model without further clarification of the long-term implications. With only two of the 32 second-round picks having signed, the implications of a league wide rookie holdout are unprecedented.
Under the rookie wage scale, total values are fixed—but guarantees and offset clauses are negotiable.
Texans and Browns shattered the mold by guaranteeing the first two picks in Round 2.
The agents of picks No. 35–64 now leverage those deals to press for identical security.
Until one side yields, all 30 rookies remain in limbo—something unseen since the 2020 pandemic-shortened offseason.
Training Camp Impact
All unsigned second-round rookies can attend voluntary workouts via participation agreements, but none will practice or suit up for camp without a signed contract.
The Los Angeles Chargers opened camp with rookies on July 12, but second-round pick Tre Harris did not report, making him the first 2025 second rounder to miss the first day of camp in his current contract standoff.
Any further holdout could force teams to adjust depth charts, limit reps for key draft assets, and potentially slow a rookie’s transition to the speed of the NFL game.
Case Study: Detroit Lions & Tate Ratledge
Detroit signed six of seven 2025 picks; only Ratledge remains unsigned as rookies report July 16 (veterans on July 19). Missing camp installs under a new offensive coordinator could cost him important reps in Lions diverse and difficult zone-blocking scheme and pass-pro packages. The Lions face a tightrope: uphold the wage scale, avoid a precedent that invites future holdouts, and integrate a top 60 pick.
Collusion Concerns: League vs. Agents
In June 2025, the NFL settled a collusion grievance brought by veterans who alleged teams conspired to depress free agent pay. Now, agents for second-round rookies appear to be orchestrating a reverse collusion: no one signs until full guarantees are on the table. Both scenarios underscore a shifting power dynamic—whether it is teams or agents banding together to influence contract norms.
What Others Are Saying
“Giving a second-round pick a fully guaranteed deal is an outlier… Thirty rookies holding out feels a little like collusion.” — Curt Popejoy, USA Today Draft Wire
“Before 2025, no second-round picks had received fully guaranteed rookie contracts… Now 30 picks are holding out. Simple to explain, far from simple to solve.” — Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk
The Rules: “No Contract, No Camp”
While Articles 3, 7, and 23 of the NFLPA’s collective bargaining agreement focus on pay and per diems, league-wide precedent and team policy enforce one hard line:
Unsigned rookies cannot participate in any official preseason training camp activity. Without a signed Player Contract, no practices, meetings, or game-prep reps are allowed. Confirmed by multiple sources and reports, Tate Ratledge will not be able to participate in the Detroit Lions preseason training camp.
Download The Full NFLPA / CBA Here
Consequences of Holding Out
No Fines for Unsigned Rookies
Unsigned rookie holdouts face no contractual fines or penalties per the NFLPA / CBA. Outside of missing their per day per diem allowance during training camp. Only signed rookie holdouts face up to $40,000/day in fines.Replay Risk
A full-season holdout could force a re-entry into the 2026 draft, with no guarantee of landing in the same organization.Team Chemistry & Development
Lost practice reps hinder playbook mastery and locker-room bonds—critical for a rookie’s transition.
Team Observations 2025 Rookies
With the NFL landscape shifting, the occurrence of rookie holdouts has become less frequent, with few notable exceptions. This trend indicates a growing acceptance among players to sign contracts before training camp. The Lions, along with other teams, are likely to monitor Ratledge's situation closely, as it could influence their approach to contract negotiations moving forward.
Mike Florio commented on this situation back in June 2025.
Rock’s Take
The contract situation surrounding Tate Ratledge is emblematic of the evolving dynamics within the NFL regarding rookie contracts. As teams navigate the complexities of contract negotiations, the Lions must balance the urgency of signing Ratledge with the potential ramifications of setting a precedent for future negotiations. The outcome of this situation could have lasting effects not only on Ratledge's career but also on the strategies employed by the Lions and other teams in future draft classes.
My question is what will happen with the 2026 rookies? Will the NFLPA ratify the player contract bylaws and restructure the CBA? Will the third-round rookies also begin holding out? The Lions cannot afford to lose Ragnow, Zeitler and now their second-round pick to replace one or the other Zeitler or Ragnow in 2025.
As the Detroit Lions head into training camp the organization must act swiftly to ensure that Ratledge’ integration into the team effectively, avoiding the pitfalls associated with holdout and potential for locker room dysfunction.
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