The Seattle Seahawks didn't want to waste too much time when it came to the draft class the team chose just last weekend. Why not get the rookies to sign their contracts and have that done in a speedy fashion? That is what happened with three-quarters of the 2026 class on Thursday.
Seattle announced it had signed six of the eight players it chose, including third-round pick Julian Neal, fifth-round choice Beau Stephens, sixth-rounder Emmanuel Henderson Jr., and seventh-round choices Andre Fuller, Deven Eastern, and Michael Dansby. The only two selections left unsigned are first-round choice Jadarian Price and second-round pick Bud Clark.
Price and Clark will be the most difficult contracts to negotiate, but not because of the money involved. Each selection in a draft has a slotted amount that they will be paid. What isn't known is how much of the contract will be guaranteed, and how much of it will be a signing bonus.
Seattle Seahawks sign three-quarters of their 2026 NFL draft class
Rounds three through seven, as the players already inked are, get less guaranteed. First-round choices now are almost always fully guaranteed, but the signing bonus has to be worked out. Second-round selections, like Clark, are more often guaranteed than they once were, but possibly not by pick 64 when the Seahawks chose the safety.
Clark's agent is obviously going to argue that his client's full slotted amount should be guaranteed, but that is unlikely. The situation probably means Bud Clark will be the last player to sign with Seattle.
As for the amounts, no contract details were delivered for the six players who signed, but there will be no surprises. For Price, once he signs, he will make up to $16,783,950, according to Spotrac, while Clark will make up to $7,878,262.
Players and agents want as much money as possible upon signing, however, and that is the hardest part. The teams understand how the negotiations will work, and so do the agents.
Plus, as each pick is slotted, the chances of a rookie not signing their first NFL contract are almost nil. Players want to play football to get paid millions of dollars, and agents want them to sign their contracts so that they get paid, too.
Soon, and before training camp, almost all (if not all) of the players chosen in the 2026 NFL draft will have inked their deals with their new employers. In the case of the Seattle Seahawks, six players already have. All that's left for them is proving they deserve a roster spot.
Add us as a preferred source on Google