As training camps gear up for action, a surprising twist emerges: a staggering 32 draft picks are still unsigned! This unusual number raises eyebrows across the league.

The bulk of these unsigned players—30, to be exact—hail from the second round. This situation arose because the first two selections in that round secured fully guaranteed deals, leaving the rest in a contract limbo.

Interestingly, the NFL Players Association may have an opportunity to unite these agents—though wrangling them into action could be a challenging feat!

Among the other two unsigned players are two first-round picks. The Cincinnati Bengals are currently in a standoff with edge rusher Shemar Stewart, who was picked 17th overall. The key issue at hand? Ongoing negotiations about the implications of a default on future contract guarantees.

Over with the Denver Broncos, cornerback Jahdae Barron, the 20th pick, is facing delays as well. The holdup could stem from significant increases in training camp roster bonuses for first-round players. For instance, the player picked right before him, Buccaneers receiver Emeka Egbuka, saw his bonus percentage skyrocket from 70% to an eye-popping 96.2%! Meanwhile, Derrick Harmon, the draft pick following Barron, jumped from 52.34% to 84.93%.

Barron’s expected slot percentage for 2024 stood at 61.93%, making the contract negotiations even trickier.

Under normal circumstances, it would be just Stewart and Barron snagging headlines as the lone unsigned first-rounders. But the tumultuous second-round negotiations have left 13% of all draft picks in limbo as the season approaches.

While it’s easy to label these players as "holdouts" waiting for better contracts, the unique circumstances shelter them from financial penalties. Without official contracts, they can’t be fined, and their signing bonuses are safe. Essentially, they aren’t bound by their teams—yet!

With training camps just around the corner, all eyes will be on these unsigned players. Will they resolve their contract disputes before the season kicks off? Only time will tell!