Only two of the 32 second round picks have signed their rookie contracts. New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough is not one of those two, and neither is Los Angeles Chargers second round pick, Tre Harris. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Harris is holding out due to his lack of contract.
The dispute with the second round picks revolves around guaranteed money. The top two picks in the round got fully guaranteed contracts. It's set a precedent that no player wants to be the first to break. It's likely the signings will move quickly once the first domino falls.
Harris is the first holdout but likely not the last. We'll have to see if the trend continues when other teams begin to report for training camp. There could be a large portion of second round picks that follow Harris' lead, but Shough probably won't be one of them.
Tyler Shough is an unique position entering Saints training camp in comparison to his fellow second-round picks
Shough was the only quarterback drafted in the second round. This already sets him apart. Additionally, he's in a quarterback battle with Spencer Rattler. Shough may not have the luxury to hold out of training camp.
If Derek Carr was still on the roster and the plan was for Shough to sit a year, this would be a different situation. You still wouldn't want your rookie quarterback to miss reps, but you could manage. Not only could missing out on reps hurt Shough's immediate development, it could also help Rattler get a lead in the quarterack competition.
The two young quarterbacks have battled it out in organized team activities and minicamp, and it'll be the main attraction in training camp. So far, both of them have been impressive. Shough's hypothetical absence could be the first catalyst of separation.
This is a risk Shough may not want to take. It doesn't mean he'll sign a contract before training camp, but the odds of a holdout are lower for Shough than other second rounders. While a receiver can hold out then find his way back into the rotation, it's just one quarterback. That condition will weigh on Shough's mind when considering his decision, and it's not something his peers have to ponder.