Why didn’t Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze sign their rookie contracts? originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
It’s been almost a month since the Bears drafted Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze with the No. 1 and No. 9 picks, respectively, in the 2024 NFL Draft. They’ve already completed rookie minicamp and have since competed in OTAs (Offseason Team Activity).
So why haven’t either of them signed their respective rookie contracts?
You don’t have to worry. It is common for rookies and teams to take some time before their deals are finalized.
At the time of writing, only two of the top 10 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft have signed their respective rookie contracts (Giants’ Malik Nabers and Titans’ JC Latham).
As for the Bears, 2023 first-round pick Darnell Wright signed his rookie deal on May 15; 2021 first-rounder Justin Fields signed his rookie contract on June 10; 2016 first-rounder Leonard Floyd signed his rookie contract on May 27.
Roquan Smith held out on rookie contract negotiations during his rookie offseason. However, that situation was an outlier. Smith fought for pay in the scenario he was suspended due to the NFL’s newly added helmet-to-helmet contact penalty.
Remember, since NFL rookies are rookie contracts, they are tied to their allotted money from the rookie contract pool that is determined each season. Rookies and teams may not exceed the allotted money allocated to their respective positions and picks in the draft, as the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) states.
For Williams, Spotrac expects he will sign a four-year contract worth $39.4 million, including a $25.8 million signing bonus. (Please note that signing bonuses are included in the total contract value and cannot exceed the maximum amount allocated to that player’s contract.)
Spotrac projects Odunze to sign a four-year contract worth $22.7 million, including a $13.3 million signing bonus. Both Williams and Odunze’s contracts will have fifth-year options based on their status as first-round picks.
MORE: This is what rookie contracts for Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze look like
Rookies can negotiate the amount of their contract to be paid in the form of guaranteed money. Guaranteed money in the third and fourth years of their contracts is not allowed unless it is similarly guaranteed in the current year of the contract, the CBA said.
Safety Jaquan Brisker sat out his rookie season while negotiating guaranteed money for the third year of his rookie deal. But for Williams and Odunze, who were both selected in the first round, Spotrac expects their contracts to be fully guaranteed.
Performance incentives in a rookie contract can also be negotiated, but can only be related to playing time. Since both Williams and Odunze are guaranteed starters, they likely won’t have playing time clauses.
The Bears have plenty of time to get all their rookie deals done. It won’t be a concern unless one of them remains unsigned heading into training camp, which won’t start until mid-July for the Bears.
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