Patrick Mahomes remains among few 1st round picks unsigned
By Matt Conner
Patrick Mahomes remains unsigned despite the fact that rookies have slotted systems that keep them from holding out.
At this point, there are very few rookies who have yet to sign from the NFL Draft. That’s not just from the first round but for all seven rounds; ever since the the league and the NFLPLA agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement, there’s simply no (or little) reason for any rookie to hold out. That said, there are a few first rounders remaining, including Patrick Mahomes, the first round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mahomes’ rookie deal should be slotted at right around $16.4 million over a four-year term (with a team option for a fifth year that would pay Mahomes much more handsomely). The players immediately around Mahomes have already signed, showing the parameters of where Mahomes could land. The Cincinnati Bengals gave wide receiver John Ross $17.1 million for the No. 9 slot and Marshon Lattimore, a cornerback for the New Orleans Saints, will make $15.3 million as the No. 11 overall pick.
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Mahomes might be wanting to discuss some offset language in his deal if the Chiefs are insisting on it. It’s the sort of language that has led to hiccups for first-round rookies in recent years and it essentially means that, if a team puts offset language in a deal, Mahomes wouldn’t be allowed to get paid twice if he moved on from the Chiefs. An example would be if he was a complete bust and the Chiefs release him. Offset language would allow the Chiefs to recoup some of the money they still owe him based on what a new team would give him. No offset language would allow Mahomes to be paid by the Chiefs and his new team.
There’s no way of knowing if there’s an issue or whether the parties are just slow to come to the table, but a deal will eventually get done. Even in a publicly contentious situation like Joey Bosa’s last season, he eventually signed and will be with the Chargers for some time. Everyone on the Chiefs on all sides have played the Mahomes situation perfectly so it’s hard to imagine the finances getting out of hand or drawn out into the public for some reason.
Other rookies who remain unsigned include the first quarterback taken, No. 2 pick Mitchell Trubisky, No. 3 defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, No. 5 wide receiver Corey Davis and No. 24 cornerback Gareon Conley of the Oakland Raiders.