Round NFL players, specifically first-round draft picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, make substantial rookie contracts that are fully guaranteed and include significant signing bonuses. Here are key details on their earnings:
- First-round picks have total contract values ranging roughly from $43 million for the first overall pick down to about $13 million for the 32nd pick over four years
- The signing bonuses for first-rounders range from about $27.9 million for the first pick to around $6.3 million for the last pick in the first round
- Year 1 earnings for first-round picks start at about $7.8 million for the top pick and decrease to around $2.4 million for the last pick in the round
- The total value for all first-round picks combined in 2025 is about $693.9 million, with nearly half going to the top ten picks
For context beyond the first round:
- Second-round picks earn between approximately $6.3 million and just under $10 million in total contract value
- Third-round picks typically make between $5.5 million and $6 million in their rookie contracts
- Rookie contracts are fixed for four years with a fifth-year option for first-rounders, and cannot be renegotiated until after the third season
In summary, first-round NFL draft picks in 2025 can expect rookie contracts in the range of $13 million to over $43 million total, with significant signing bonuses and guaranteed money, making them the highest-paid rookies in the league
