A move that has been long-awaited for the Bucs has finally come to pass. The team has reached an agreement with their second-round draft pick Benjamin Morrison. He can now report to training camp having signed his rookie contract.
Morrison One Of Dozens of Second-Round Picks To Sign In Recent Days
Up until July 16th, only two second round picks had signed their contracts. They were 33rd overall pick Carson Schwesinger and 34th overall pick Jayden Higgins. Both were able to secure fully guaranteed deals. These full guarantees had previously been reserved for first-round picks, but Schwesinger and Higgins were able to further the percentage of income second round picks could count on in a yearly dance that teams and players have commited to.
But while second round picks have traditionally been late to sign relative to their draft mates, this year the wait droned on even more as the other 30 players drafted in this range, Morrison included, engaged in a collective effort to hold the line trying to push for larger guarantees than their predecessors had received. Two negotiations in particular were being watched closely. 35th overall pick Nick Emmanwori was the first. If he could secure a fully guaranteed deal as the two players ahead of him, had it would improve the prospects for each player behind him.
Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
But the more crucial negotiation was between quarterback Tyler Shough, selected 40th overall, and the New Orleans Saints. Shough, seemingly handed the franchise because of the retirement of Derek Carr, had as good of a bargaining as any mid second-round pick ever had to try and create a sizeable jump in guarantees and possibly get a fully guaranteed contract himself.
But eventually something gave, and the 49ers reached an agreement with 43rd overall pick Alfred Collins. Collins received 88% of his overall contract in guarantees – a 10% jump from Max Melton who was drafted 43rd overall the year prior. Since then, the floodgates have opened and more than half the draft picks in that round have now signed with training camps either underway or nearing their start.
Following those signings, it was reported that Emmanwori did in fact get a fully guaranteed deal.
Seattle Seahawks and Nick Emmanwori reached agreement tonight on a fully guaranteed contract, marking the first time in NFL history that pick No. 35 in the second round has secured a fully-guaranteed contract.
Deal was negotiated by Trevon Smith and David Mulugheta of Athletes…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 18, 2025
Now Morrison has also signed.
Details of Contract Emerge
Given the holdup regarding all of these contracts was over guaranteed money, it’s important to note how those negotiations shook out. Morrison was selected 53rd overall. The 53rd pick in the 2024 draft was Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott. Sinnott received 64% of his deal fully guaranteed. Morrison was able to advance that rate to an estimated 75% as Mike Garafolo of NFL Network has reported Morrison is getting 96% of his third-year salary guaranteed, a 54% increase over Sinnott.
Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Benjamin Morrison Reporting For Duty
The collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association stipulates that players not under contract cannot participate in training camp. There is a cutout that allows for them to be a part of summer OTA’s, which Morrison had attended. Had this deal not been reached he would not have been able to report for training camp. Now, with him under contract, all of that has been avoided.