NFL rookies had their first taste of the professional football player’s grind via voluntary OTAs.
It’s rare to see newly-drafted athletes skipping that activity unless they are holding out for their contract.
But with OTAs done, they will now gear up for training camp.
That’s where they prove that the team made the right decision of picking them.
Yet as they learn more about the pro game, they have already achieved their dream of earning money by playing the sport they love.
That said, all first-round selections during the 2022 NFL Draft are guaranteed to have an income over the next four seasons.
This means all 32 first-round picks are under contract ✅ https://t.co/7pSGFKAXu2
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 23, 2022
ESPN’s Field Yates pointed out that all the first-round picks are under contract.
He said this in response to Adam Schefter’s update regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Kenny Pickett signing his deal.
Terms of the deal have not been disclosed but Spotrac estimates it around $14 million.
But while these 32 prospects heard their name be called in round one, their contracts are not equal.
Top overall selection Travon Walker signed a four-year, $37.3 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Meanwhile, number two pick Aidan Hutchinson got a $35.71 million contract from the Detroit Lions.
Further down the list, safety Lewis Cine agreed to an $11.4 million deal with a $5.5 million bonus.
First-round contracts are up to four years and it comes with a fifth-year option that the team can exercise.
Time To Prove Themselves On The Field
With their contract negotiations over, these highly-touted picks can focus on doing well during the training camp to make the final roster.
Then, they have to perform well when the games start to matter.
Separating themselves from the rest of the field will expedite the process of getting a lucrative contract extension.
Typically, the highly exceptional ones get their second contract after three seasons.
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