One of the annual highlights of training camp is finally seeing your team’s rookies in action. However, a league-wide conundrum could complicate that this year.
We’re about a week away from training camp, but only two second-round picks have signed their rookie contracts as of this writing. The Houston Texans gave 34th-overall selection wide receiver Jayden Higgins a fully guaranteed deal, setting a precedent other teams aren’t quite ready for. Only the Cleveland Browns followed suit with Carson Schwesinger.
That means 30 other second-rounders, including Green Bay Packers rookie offensive lineman Anthony Belton, remain unsigned. Typically, only first-round picks receive guaranteed deals, but the financial landscape is constantly evolving.
With 29 of his peers in the same situation, Belton isn’t the face of this issue. It’s fair for his representative to see how the dominoes fall before signing anything. However, according to NFL rules, rookies aren’t allowed to participate in training camp without signing their contracts. That means Belton could be a holdout if this situation isn’t resolved in the next few days.
Missing time is never ideal for rookies as they adjust to life at the NFL level and are competing for a spot. Green Bay’s offensive line already has a few question marks heading into training camp. What would it mean for Belton and the offensive line if the situation remains unsolved by next week?
Belton is a different build from the prototypical Packers offensive lineman. He’s much bigger than they usually go for at 6’6”, 336 lbs., and he’s an older prospect at 24. With his size and experience at left tackle (33 collegiate starts), Belton looks like a tackle-only prospect, though the Packers may believe he could convert to guard. Belton practiced at both tackle spots with the second-team offense during OTAs and minicamp.
Barring injury, Belton isn’t expected to crack the starting lineup quite yet. Four of last year’s starters return, including Rasheed Walker at left tackle, Sean Rhyan at right guard, and Zach Tom at right tackle. Elgton Jenkins is expected to move to center, while they signed Aaron Banks as the new left guard. With 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan competing for a spot at either left tackle or right guard, there’s a lot to like about Green Bay’s offensive line before even considering Belton.
But three starters (Walker, Rhyan, and Tom) are in the final years of their rookie contract. It’s highly unlikely the Packers will give all three get extensions. Belton could be a preferred starter in 2026. At the very least, his performance could factor into which players are re-signed and which walk.
Zach Tom is a lock to get a new contract, while Banks’ recent deal means he’ll be a fixture at left guard. Morgan and Belton are in contention for starting spots at left tackle and right guard through at least 2026. Having both young players available would give the Packers a clearer picture of where each of them should specialize.
Further complicating matters is Elgton Jenkins’ frustrations with his own contract. Jenkins could be an All-Pro center, but he’s on the final stretch of his current deal with the Packers, and centers generally make less money than guards. Justifiably, he wants some clarity on his future before he commits to a less lucrative position.
Jenkins skipped voluntary team activities and didn’t practice during mandatory minicamp. With no new updates, his absence could continue into training camp.
That’s bad news for the Packers but good news for players looking for opportunities. No Jenkins means an extra opening on the line, letting other players work with the first-team offense. That allowed Rhyan and Jacob Monk to receive starting reps at center. That led to Morgan playing right guard next to Rhyan at center, showcasing another possible future lineup.
Belton could theoretically take advantage of this gap and get some opportunity with the ones. At the very least, Morgan is primarily working with the ones, which opens more opportunities with the seconds for Belton.
So not only is Belton missing out on valuable reps he needs anyway, he’s missing out on a chance to take advantage of another player’s absence. Having the two biggest pre-training camp headaches be on the offensive line is bad for the Packers, but excellent for any lineman looking for more opportunities.
If Belton were the lone second-round holdout, the situation would be different. However, he’s a victim of circumstance, given the state of the market. It’s not fair to ever blame a player for trying to maximize their earnings while they can, and no one wants to be the first to cave and accept a lesser deal.
Still, Belton will miss valuable experience if these deals aren’t figured out by next week. The Packers clearly like Belton, who they drafted much higher than his consensus ranking (for whatever that’s worth). He could be a preferred starter as early as next season. And every offensive lineman trying to crack the starting lineup should be taking advantage of the domino effect of a potential Jenkins holdout. It’ll be a shame if Belton falls behind because of not being able to participate in camp.
Thankfully, there’s still a week until camp, and actions spur deadlines. Perhaps as early as tomorrow, the second-round conundrum works itself out, leaving this analysis as nothing more than tears in the rain.