Titans: How the Texans are Actively Screwing over the Titans

The Texans have been one of the Titans’ biggest foes ever since they entered the league in 2002, filling in as Houston’s replacement franchise since the Oilers, now Titans, left in 1996. They have gone punch for punch in their rivalries history with the Titans only having a narrow 24-22 lead on Houston. Between admittedly petty choices of what games to wear Oiler’s throwbacks to cheap shots from owners the teams have done everything in their power to embarrass each other for two decades. The Texans have just landed the most recent punch and though indirect, is still leaving a mark. Not only did the Texans put us in a bind with this move, but also 29 other franchises. So what did ‘ole Houston do? Well, here is the full story:

For as long as the draft has existed NFL rookie contracts have come with preset values based on draft position, as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Teams don’t negotiate the total salary with their draft picks, that’s already determined ahead of time. So, what’s left to negotiate? Primarily, the finer details of the deal, such as how much of the contract will be fully guaranteed and specific elements of the contract structure.

Unlike the NBA, where fully guaranteed contracts have long been the standard, the NFL has traditionally resisted that shift—until now. As the league’s value skyrockets and player empowerment gains momentum, guarantees are becoming the new currency of leverage. And when it comes to draft picks, what began as an inch is quickly turning into a mile.

These days, every first-round selection walks away with a fully guaranteed deal. And with each new draft class, that precedent creeps further down the board. In 2024, Ladd McConkey—taken 34th overall, just two picks into the second round—fell just shy of that benchmark. Fast forward to this year, and the Browns and Texans wasted no time locking in full guarantees for their own second-rounders: Carson Schwesinger at No. 33 and Jayden Higgins at No. 34.

But now, with pick No. 35, the momentum has hit a wall. A precedent is forming, expectations are shifting, and front offices are being forced to decide: draw the line, or keep moving it.

The Titans, although still in a bind, actually dodged a bullet as they traded pick 35 and now, as to be expected, Seattle's pick, Nick Emmanwori, safety from South Carolina who went 35th overall, is holding out. Of course with 33rd and 34th getting unprecedented deals 35 is to expect similar, but it's not only affecting 35. Every second round pick past 35 is still yet to sign which creates a massive logjam. 

This has been an issue in the back of all the other NFL teams that have yet to sign their 2nd round picks, but didn’t really become real until this week. The Charger’s roster reported to training camp this week and Tre Harris, a rookie wide receiver from Ole Miss and most importantly, the 35th overall pick, was nowhere to be seen. This of course means he is holding out. 

Now the problem for Tennessee arises: If the 55th pick didn’t show up, why should the 52nd. Edge Femi Oladejo from UCLA is that and he’s in a very precarious situation with this. Every single player, especially rookies, need camp, but especially a player like Oladejo who only has been playing their position for a little over a year. With the Titans Edge room being as lacking in depth as it already is, a loss of progression time or god forbid a holdout from the rookie could be killer. So come July 22nd if Oladejo is absent, don’t be surprised. And remember, it is all Houston’s fault.