The New England Patriots devoted much of their offseason to building a stronger offensive core around rookie quarterback Drake Maye. That included selecting offensive players with all four of their top-100 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
As training camp nears, however, the Patriots may be without one of those key rookies when practices begin. Unless there’s a last-minute breakthrough, TreVeyon Henderson, their second-round pick (38th overall), will be absent due to an ongoing contract dispute.
While most rookie deals are finalized quickly these days, the 2025 second-round class has been the exception. Only two of the 32 players selected in that round have signed, as many agents push for fully guaranteed contracts, a rarity at that level. No second-rounder has ever received a fully guaranteed deal, and so far, most teams are holding the line.
Henderson remains the Patriots’ only unsigned rookie, and although New England isn’t alone in this situation, there’s growing pressure for them to make a move. The standout running back was widely considered one of the most complete backs in the draft and has the potential to immediately upgrade both the run game and passing attack.
Considering his projected impact, it may be worth it for the Patriots to be among the first to bend on full guarantees — especially given Henderson’s draft slot, where 2024 rookies saw about 83% of their contracts guaranteed. Compared to later picks in the round, the concession wouldn’t be as steep.
New England has generated optimism heading into 2025 with a refreshed roster and coaching staff. While a rookie holdout isn’t catastrophic, it would be an avoidable distraction for a franchise eager to return to contention. We’ll soon see how firm Henderson’s stance is — and whether the Patriots are willing to meet it.