When it comes to NFL rookies, holdouts are becoming a thing of the past—thanks to a streamlined collective bargaining agreement that makes contract negotiations much smoother. But there's one exception that keeps causing friction: second-round draft picks. These selections have turned into a tug-of-war between teams and agents, with players pushing for more guaranteed money in the later years of their deals while front offices try to keep costs down. In the grand scheme, though, it's really just penny-pinching.

The New Orleans Saints have navigated these waters before. Take Tyler Shough, the No. 40 overall pick in 2025, who didn't put pen to paper until July 19—and even then, his entire four-year contract was fully guaranteed. That pattern has played out in previous years too.

Now, all eyes are on Saints rookie defensive tackle Christen Miller, selected at No. 42 overall. For comparison, last year's No. 42 pick, New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor, secured guarantees for the first three years of his deal plus 60% of his fourth-year salary—a 55% increase from the player drafted in that slot the year before. The Saints might initially push back, but when you zoom out, these are small stakes.

Here's the math: Under the rookie wage scale, contract values are tied to draft position. Miller is due $2,510,103 in 2029. If he gets the same guarantee structure as Taylor, that's $1,506,062. A potential 55% jump would mean fully guaranteeing that $2.5 million figure. The final number might land somewhere in between, but the difference is just over $1 million. Considering the salary cap is projected to soar past $375 million by 2029, we're talking about a fraction of a percent—literally 0.2% of the cap. That's not worth dragging out negotiations.

The bottom line? Get the deal done, get Miller on the field, and make sure he's ready to hit training camp. Every rep counts for a rookie looking to make his mark.