LIST: Contracts of Texas Longhorns selected in 2025 NFL draft

I can provide a detailed breakdown of the contracts of Texas Longhorns selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, the information on contracts for players in the 2025 NFL Draft would typically not be available until the draft itself takes place, as contracts are often finalized once players are drafted and agreements are made. Furthermore, since the draft and contracts for 2025 haven’t occurred yet, I can instead provide an in-depth analysis of how NFL contracts typically work, including rookie contracts, contract negotiations, and what to expect for Longhorns players when they get drafted.

Since the 2025 NFL Draft has yet to occur and player contracts haven’t been finalized, I can provide an overview of the process and factors involved in how contracts for Texas Longhorns selected in the 2025 NFL Draft might unfold. This includes how rookie contracts are structured, what determines the value of those contracts, and how teams and agents work through negotiations. Additionally, I can highlight how past Texas Longhorns draftees have fared with their contracts to give a broader perspective on what to expect in the upcoming draft.

NFL Rookie Contracts: A Detailed Breakdown
NFL contracts for rookies are generally governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the league and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). Since the 2011 CBA, rookie contracts are primarily structured based on the draft position, with the first-round picks receiving the most lucrative contracts and later-round picks receiving more modest deals.

1. Contract Length and Structure
The length of a rookie contract is typically four years for players selected in the first round of the draft and four years with a fifth-year option for first-round selections, which the team can choose to exercise after the player’s third season. For players drafted in rounds 2-7, their contracts are typically four years long, but they do not come with the additional fifth-year option.

The basic structure of an NFL rookie contract typically consists of the following components:

Base Salary: This is the player’s yearly pay, which is often structured to escalate over the term of the contract.

Signing Bonus: Players selected in the first few rounds are awarded a signing bonus. This bonus is guaranteed money and is often a large portion of the player’s contract value. For example, a player drafted in the first round might receive a signing bonus of several million dollars, depending on their draft position.

Guaranteed Money: This is money that is guaranteed to be paid to the player, regardless of performance or injury. For players drafted in the first round, a significant portion of their contract is often fully guaranteed. Players in later rounds receive less guaranteed money, and some may even have performance incentives written into their contracts.

Incentives: Players may also earn additional bonuses based on performance metrics, such as playing time, sacks (for defensive players), touchdowns (for offensive players), or making the Pro Bowl.

Option Year: For first-round picks, the team can exercise a fifth-year option at the end of the player’s third season. The fifth-year option is based on the player’s position in the draft and is typically paid at the value of the franchise tag for that position. For example, a quarterback’s fifth-year option will be significantly higher than that of a running back or a wide receiver.

2. Rookie Contracts by Draft Round
Let’s break down the typical value and structure of rookie contracts based on draft position.

First-Round Picks (1st-32nd Overall):

Length: 4 years with a 5th-year option for team selection.

Signing Bonus: The signing bonus is often the largest component of the rookie contract, and it can range anywhere from $10 million to over $20 million for top 10 picks, depending on the overall draft position.

Base Salary: The base salary will start at a minimum NFL salary and then increase year over year. The total value of the contract for a top 10 pick can be anywhere from $25 million to $40 million or more over four years.

Guaranteed Money: Most, if not all, of the signing bonus is guaranteed. A portion of the base salary may also be guaranteed.

Second and Third-Round Picks (33rd-105th Overall):

Length: 4 years with no fifth-year option.

Signing Bonus: Generally, second-round picks get signing bonuses in the range of $2 million to $6 million, with third-round picks receiving slightly less.

Base Salary: These contracts are more modest, generally in the $1.5 million to $2.5 million range annually.

Guaranteed Money: A smaller portion of the contract is guaranteed, usually tied to the signing bonus and sometimes additional guarantees for injuries or specific performance incentives.

Fourth to Seventh-Round Picks (106th Overall and Beyond):

Length: 4 years.

Signing Bonus: Smaller signing bonuses for players drafted in these rounds, typically in the range of $200,000 to $1 million.

Base Salary: Players in these rounds will receive base salaries in the $500,000 to $1.5 million range annually.

Guaranteed Money: Very limited or none at all, with the exception of the signing bonus.

Texas Longhorns Players Likely to Be Drafted in 2025
Though the specific players and their draft positions for the 2025 NFL Draft are unknown, we can speculate based on the talent currently on the Texas Longhorns roster and past performances. Some key players to watch in the 2025 draft cycle include:

1. Quinn Ewers – Quarterback
As a highly-rated quarterback prospect who entered Texas as one of the top recruits in his class, Ewers could be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, depending on how he performs in the upcoming seasons. He has the physical tools to be an NFL starter, and if he continues to develop as expected, Ewers could land a lucrative contract similar to other top quarterbacks in recent years, such as Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields.

Expected Draft Position: If Ewers performs well, he could go in the top 10, meaning he would sign a contract worth $25 million to $40 million over four years, with a large portion of it guaranteed, including a signing bonus.

2. Bijan Robinson – Running Back
Bijan Robinson is one of the most dynamic running backs in college football. If he continues his dominance through his junior year at Texas, Robinson could be selected in the first round of the 2025 draft, possibly in the early 20s or even higher. Running backs in the first round tend to receive contracts with significant signing bonuses and guaranteed money, though their total contract value is usually less than quarterbacks.

Expected Draft Position: Top 20 (possibly a late first-round pick).

Expected Contract Value: Likely between $12 million and $18 million over four years, with a signing bonus of $6 million to $8 million.

3. Xavier Worthy – Wide Receiver
Xavier Worthy has been a standout wide receiver for the Longhorns. Depending on his performance over the next few seasons, he could see himself as a first-round pick in 2025. Receivers drafted in the first round usually earn contracts in the $15 million to $25 million range over four years, with a solid signing bonus.

Expected Draft Position: Late first round or early second round.

Expected Contract Value: Between $15 million and $18 million over four years, with a signing bonus around $5 million.

4. Jerrin Thompson – Safety
Thompson has been a strong performer on defense for Texas, and if he continues to improve, he could see himself drafted in the mid rounds. Second and third-round safeties typically earn contracts in the $4 million to $7 million range over four years.

Expected Draft Position: Mid to late second round.

Expected Contract Value: Approximately $5 million to $7 million over four years, with signing bonuses ranging from $1 million to $2 million.

5. Kelvin Banks – Offensive Tackle
As one of the most impressive young offensive linemen in the nation, Banks is a name to watch for the 2025 NFL Draft. Offensive linemen, especially tackles, are often drafted in the first round, given their importance to the success of an offense.

Expected Draft Position: First or second round.

Expected Contract Value: First-round picks for offensive tackles often earn contracts between $20 million and $30 million over four years, with sizable signing bonuses.

Contract Negotiations and the Role of Agents
Once a Texas Longhorn is drafted, they will enter contract negotiations. Agents play a vital role in these negotiations, representing the player’s interests and ensuring that they secure the best possible contract. In many cases, agents will work with the team to finalize details of the contract, such as the signing bonus, base salary, guarantees, and performance incentives.

While rookie contracts are largely dictated by the NFL CBA, the agent’s role becomes critical in ensuring that a player gets as much guaranteed money as possible, with favorable terms for the player. Furthermore, the agent often works to negotiate favorable clauses that protect the player in case of injury or a performance-based decline.Though we do not yet know the specific contracts for Texas Longhorns players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, we can predict that the players highlighted above will receive a range of lucrative contracts, with first-round picks earning the most substantial deals. The key factors in determining these contracts will be the players’ draft position, their performance leading up to the draft, and the team selecting them.

As we approach the 2025 draft, it’s clear that Texas Longhorns players such as Quinn Ewers, Bijan Robinson, Xavier Worthy, Jerrin Thompson, and Kelvin Banks will be among the most coveted prospects. Each player has the potential to secure a contract that reflects their talent, with high expectations for their immediate and long-term contributions to their NFL teams. While the contracts themselves are still unknown, Texas fans can take pride in the fact that their players are on the path to the next level of competition, with the NFL beckoning for a new class of Longhorns to leave their mark on the professional game.