Lions Stuck in Middle of Rookie Contract Standoff
The Detroit Lions are heading into the 2025 season with sky-high expectations. Their NFL core is healthy, the roster is stacked. And their recent draft haul looked like another win for GM Brad Holmes, until now.
What should have been a smooth onboarding for second-round pick Tate Ratledge has turned into a headache. The 57th overall pick is still without a signed contract, caught in the middle of an unexpected rookie pay war that has swept across the NFL.
Texans, Browns Spark NFL-Wide Mess
It all began when the Houston Texans handed Jayden Higgins, the 34th overall pick, a fully guaranteed four-year, $11.7 million deal. That opened the floodgates. Shortly after, the Cleveland Browns did the same for Carson Schwesinger at pick No. 33.
Now, second-round rookies league-wide are holding out for similar terms and Ratledge is no exception.
So far, Ratledge is the only Lions rookie without a deal. Detroit has locked in six other draftees, including first-rounder Tyleik Williams (4 years, $16.4 million guaranteed) and third-round pick Isaac TeSlaa (4 years, $6.6 million).
But Ratledge, a multi-time All-American and key leader at Georgia has stayed firm, hoping to land a fully guaranteed deal, even though projections suggest a 4-year, $7.6 million contract.
To his credit, Ratledge hasn’t gone full camp holdout like Chargers receiver Tre Harris, who has refused to report until his own deal is finalized. Ratledge has shown up to the Lions’ offseason program, which suggests he’s still bought into the team’s culture.
But behind the scenes, the situation is reportedly wearing thin. The Lions are one of the NFL’s most talented teams. And stalling negotiations over guarantees is not what anyone wants with camp approaching.
Ratledge has the résumé and talent to be a Day 1 contributor on Detroit’s offensive line. But with the league watching closely and precedent already set, this contract standoff might not break anytime soon. For now, the Lions are left hoping their prized rookie signs the dotted line before things get uglier.
Stay in the Game With the Latest Scores, Highlights, and Stories — Follow GamerKoala on MSN.
