Tyler Shough makes history with rookie contract, and a few other rookies need to thank the Saints quarterback

The contract also includes annual Roster Bonus structure whereby Shough receives the majority of his compensation each year during the first week of training camp.

-- Adam Schefter

Shough is locked into a quarterback competition with Spencer Rattler. Now, the rookie will be available for training camp, which begins next week for New Orleans. That timeline certainly pushed the two sides together to find an agreement. 

In the end, it never made sense for the Saints to not sign Shough due to around 10% of his pay being guaranteed. They see him as a potential long-term answer at QB for Kellen Moore, so they couldn't choose to go another route, following precedent from the rest of the NFL earlier in round two. 

One recent player to sign was WR Luther Burden Jr., who was drafted with the 39th pick by the Chicago Bears and landed a fully guaranteed contract. Burden was selected just one pick ahead of when the New Orleans Saints drafted QB Tyler Shough, which seems to make the Saints' next steps pretty obvious. -- A to Z Sports

 

Other rookies can thank Shough for their payday

With his negotiations, Shough incidentally helped five draft picks secure fully-guaranteed deals. Those other rookies and their agents knew what Shough hoped for with his deal when it came to guarantees, and they took advantage, landing those full guarantees. 

The NFL isn't used to this. Full guarantees have never been a consistent part of second-round picks, but this could be an annual change. For the rest of the league, it remains to be seen if any rookie picked after Shough (40th overall) will get full guarantees on their rookie deal.