With the 2026 NFL Draft now two weeks in the rearview mirror, the league is already seeing a brisk signing season—65 percent of all draft picks have inked their rookie contracts. That's 166 of the 257 selected players who have put pen to paper, according to league sources.

The numbers tell a compelling story about how quickly teams are moving to secure their future stars. Rounds five and seven are leading the charge, each boasting an impressive 85 percent signing rate with 35 out of 41 players signed in both rounds. This early momentum marks a significant shift from past years, when contract negotiations often dragged deep into the summer.

At the top of the draft, 12 of the 32 first-round picks have already signed. However, the second round is where things get interesting—only seven players have agreed to terms so far, as the debate over fully-guaranteed contracts continues to stretch negotiations. For context, last year saw the first 40 picks (through the eighth selection of round two) secure fully-guaranteed deals. This year, the trend is holding but narrowing: Raiders safety Treydan Stukes (sixth pick of round two) and Browns receiver Denzel Boston (seventh pick) are the latest to join that exclusive club.

Team-by-team, the signing landscape is nearly universal. Every franchise except the Lions, Rams, and Dolphins has at least one draft pick under contract. This rapid pace represents a new normal in the NFL—a stark contrast to the days when rookie holdouts were common. The modern philosophy is clear: get players signed before they step foot on the practice field for rookie minicamp.

And frankly, that's how it should be. If teams expect rookies to show up as professionals, they owe them the security of a contract from day one. For fans watching their favorite new players hit the field, this streamlined process means one less distraction and more focus on what really matters: football.