Jets in Crisis: Rookie Mason Taylor Joins NFL-Wide Contract Standoff”
The New York Jets are entering a potentially complicated standoff with one of their most promising young players. Second-round draft pick Mason Taylor, a highly regarded tight end expected to contribute immediately in 2025, remains unsigned as contract negotiations stall amid a growing trend across the NFL.
The issue isn’t unique to the Jets. In fact, it’s rapidly becoming a league-wide dilemma. Of the 32 players selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, only two have officially signed contracts — and those deals are creating waves. Carson Schwesinger of the Browns and Jayden Higgins of the Texans both secured fully guaranteed contracts, a move that has upended the long-standing norms of rookie negotiations in the second round.
Now, players like Taylor are holding off on signing their rookie deals, waiting to see if full guarantees become standard for their draft slot. While the Jets technically still have time to resolve the situation before the start of training camp, the uncertainty is creating a cloud of concern.
Tensions escalated over the weekend when Chargers wide receiver Tre Harris, another second-round selection, became the first to formally hold out. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Harris refused to report by the team’s rookie deadline, signaling the first major standoff of what could become a league-wide labor issue.
“With 30 of 32 second-round picks unsigned because of a disagreement over guaranteed money, Harris makes the first official stand,” Rapoport reported.
That development places added pressure on teams like the Jets. If Taylor follows Harris’s lead, the Jets could enter training camp without one of their most critical offensive additions. Given Taylor’s projected role in the offense, a prolonged absence could hamper New York’s early-season momentum.
As negotiations continue behind closed doors, this contract standoff is quickly becoming one of the more important off-field storylines to monitor ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
