How long will it take Saints to sign this year's second-round pick?

You don't see many holdouts in the NFL anymore, and that's largely due to how simple updates to the league's collective bargaining agreement have made it to work out contracts with rookies. But there's one area where disagreements between teams and agents can draw them out. Second round draft picks have become a battleground where players' reps push for more guaranteed money in later years of their deals while teams try to haggle. But it's more or less pinching pennies.

The New Orleans Saints have dealt with these hurdles at times. Tyler Shough, the No. 40 overall pick in 2025, didn't sign until July 19 (and his four-year deal was fully guaranteed). Look at the previous years:

• 2021: Pete Werner signed on June 8
• 2022: Alontate Taylor signed on July 19
• 2023: Isaiah Foskey signed on July 19
• 2024: Kool-Aid McKinstry signed on May 31

So what's in the cards for Saints rookie Christen Miller, the No. 42 overall pick? Last year's No. 42 pick, New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor, was guaranteed the first three years of his contract and 60% of his fourth-year salary -- a 55% jump from the player picked in that slot the year before. The Saints may balk at it initially but this is small potatoes when you look at it in context.

Because contract values are tied to draft slots on the rookie wage scale, we know that Miller will be due a $2,510,103 in 2029. If he's guaranteed the same portion that Taylor was last year, that costs $1,506,062. Another 55% jump would mean fully guaranteeing that $2.5 million number. The answer may lie somewhere in the middle, but it's a difference of $1,004,041. If the salary cap keeps climbing like it has been it'll reach more than $375 million by 2029. We're talking about a fifth of one percent of the salary cap. That really isn't worth dragging out negotiations. Get the deal done and get the rookie ready for training camp.