The San Francisco 49ers agreed to contract terms with their second-round pick, Alfred Collins, according to Adam Schefter. This is a move that could impact the Indianapolis Colts, along with a number of other NFL teams.
Collins’ four-year rookie contract is worth $10.3 million and includes $9 million guaranteed. Schefter adds that 88% of Collins’ deal is guaranteed, a “huge jump” over last year’s 43rd pick.
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So why does this matter to the Colts and Tuimoloau?
Prior to Collins’ deal, 30 of the 32 second-round draft picks had been unsigned–including the Colts’ JT Tuimoloau–with negotiations at a standstill for months and training camp on the horizon. In fact, the LA Chargers‘ Tre Harris is currently a holdout.
The only second-round picks signed before Collins were Cleveland’s Carson Schwesinger and Houston’s Jayden Higgins–the first and second selections in this round. Ultimately, what created the holdup for the 30 other teams was that both Schwesinger and Higgins received fully guaranteed deals, which is a first for second-round picks.
With the rookie wage scale setting the parameters for how much a player can earn based on where they are drafted, there is little wiggle room for negotiating. However, where the negotiating does occur is around how much of each contract is guaranteed.
Perhaps the earlier unsigned second-round picks, like at 35th, 36th, and 37th overall, will still pursue the fully guaranteed contracts. But with Collins being the 43rd overall pick, his deal sets the framework for those taken behind him, which includes Tuimoloau at 45th overall.
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As Schefter said, the Collins’ signing is expected to result in multiple other second-round signings.
The Colts’ rookies report for training camp on July 21st. The first practice will take place on July 23rd.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 49ers’ Alfred Collins signing may impact Colts and JT Tuimoloau