Wide receiver Jayden Higgins has made NFL history with a landmark deal. According to his agent, Chris Cabott of Equity Sports, the Houston Texans and Higgins have agreed to a fully guaranteed four-year contract worth $11.7 million.
This deal makes Higgins the first-ever second-round pick to secure a fully guaranteed contract in NFL history.
The Texans selected Higgins with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Higgins’ football journey has been an interesting one-he began his collegiate career at Eastern Kentucky before transferring to Iowa State for his final two seasons.
During his senior year in 2024, Higgins had a breakout season, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors. He set career highs with 87 receptions, 1,183 yards, and nine touchdowns. The previous year, he also put up impressive stats with 53 catches for 983 yards and six touchdowns.
Rookie contract debate: NIL vs. NFL Deals
Higgins’ fully guaranteed contract brings attention to broader conversations surrounding NFL rookie contracts. Other players, such as quarterback Quinn Ewers, highlight the contrast in earnings between college players and those entering the NFL.
Ewers, selected with the No. 231 pick by the Miami Dolphins, will sign a four-year contract worth $4.33 million, a figure significantly lower than what he could have earned through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals had he stayed in college.
Reports suggest Ewers could have earned up to $4 million in NIL compensation if he had remained at Texas, and potentially more if he had transferred to a program like Miami or Notre Dame.
Similarly, Shedeur Sanders, drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, is expected to sign a four-year contract valued at approximately $4.6 million. Though this is a solid amount for a fifth-round pick, it’s still less than the NIL money Sanders could have earned during his final college season.
Higgins’ fully guaranteed contract represents a major shift in how NFL teams handle second-round picks. Traditionally, second-round picks would get favorable contracts but without the guarantee Higgins now enjoys. This change, paired with the increasing power of NIL deals, signals a shift in how college players view their options and the financial landscape in both the college and pro ranks.
As the first second-round pick to secure a fully guaranteed deal, Jayden Higgins has set a new precedent that may influence future draft negotiations and rookie contracts for years to come.
Read the full article here
