The Chicago Bears have secured one of the most thrilling prospects in NFL history, former Heisman Trophy winner and USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams. Despite not yet playing a professional game, Williams has already been designated as the Bears’ starting quarterback for 2024.
However, Williams has yet to sign his rookie contract, a situation shared by Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, edge rusher Dallas Turner, and Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Amarius Mims.
While most NFL teams have completed their rookie signings, the Bears, Vikings, and Bengals remain exceptions.
It’s not unusual for players, rookie or otherwise, to negotiate for the best possible deal, but the absence of contracts for these players just weeks before training camp is concerning.
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, three potential reasons for the delays in signing contracts for Williams and other first-round picks include issues with signing bonus cash flow, voids of guarantees, and guarantee offsets.
Signing bonus cash flow pertains to the teams’ available funds, especially after free-agency signings, with most NFL teams preferring to defer these bonuses rather than paying a large sum upfront. The matter of guarantees being voided due to poor performance or injury is a point of contention, as teams seek to avoid these guarantees while players seek to protect themselves with guaranteed money.
