The Las Vegas Raiders are knee-deep in OTAs, but there’s a bit of unfinished business hanging over their 2025 draft class. With 11 picks in the books, they’ve locked in 10 contracts, leaving second-round wide receiver Jack Bech as the lone holdout. The 6-foot-1, 214-pound TCU standout, taken 26th overall, is coming off a monster 2024 season—62 catches, 1,034 yards, and nine touchdowns—but his camp and the Raiders are still hashing things out as mandatory minicamp looms in June. So, what’s the holdup, and what kind of deal might Bech be looking at? Let’s break it down.
Bech isn’t the only second-rounder playing hardball. Only two of the 32 second-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft—linebacker Carson Schwesinger (Browns) and wideout Jayden Higgins (Texans)—have signed, and they’ve set a new benchmark: fully guaranteed contracts, a rarity for players outside the first round. Per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, this is likely the sticking point for Bech and others. Agents are digging in, pointing to Cleveland and Houston’s precedent and asking, “If they’re getting fully guaranteed deals, why not my guy?” It’s a fair question, and it’s got teams like the Raiders in a bind as they navigate a shifting market for second-round talent.
Under the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, Bech’s contract is slotted for a four-year, $16.8 million deal with a $9.45 million signing bonus, based on his draft position (26th overall), per OverTheCap.com estimates for 2025 second-rounders. The total value and structure are non-negotiable, but the guaranteed money—the cash Bech is assured no matter what—is where the tug-of-war lies. Last year, the Raiders fully guaranteed $6.8 million of a four-year, $8.8 million deal for second-round offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson, a 40th-overall pick. That’s a starting point, but Bech, drafted 14 spots higher, has leverage for more. Recent trends suggest second-round guarantees are climbing—Schwesinger’s four-year, $17.1 million deal with Cleveland is fully guaranteed, and Higgins’ $16.9 million contract with Houston follows suit.
What might the Raiders offer? Given their precedent with Powers-Johnson, they could start around $10-12 million in guarantees, covering Bech’s signing bonus ($9.45 million) and perhaps his 2025 base salary ($960,000). But Bech’s camp, eyeing those fully guaranteed deals, is likely pushing for the full $16.8 million to be locked in, especially since he’s a high-upside wideout who could pair with Davante Adams to give QB Geno Smith a dynamic target. X posts show fans are antsy, with one saying, “Pay Bech the full bag! He’s a stud waiting to happen.” Another warned, “Raiders better not lowball him—look at his TCU tape.”
The Raiders’ hesitation makes sense—they’re balancing a tight cap with a roster rebuild after a 6-11 season. Fully guaranteeing Bech’s deal would be a bold move, especially with other needs like bolstering the offensive line and secondary. But Bech’s 2024 stats—17.5 yards per catch and a knack for big plays—make him a potential game-changer, and Las Vegas can’t afford to alienate a key piece of their future. Posts on X suggest some fans think Bech’s holdout is a power move, with one joking, “Bech’s agent saw the Browns’ deal and said, ‘Hold my beer.’”
If the Raiders want to keep pace with the Browns and Texans, they might need to guarantee at least $14-15 million, if not the full $16.8 million, to get Bech in camp. Anything less, and they risk a prolonged standoff that could sour the vibe around a promising rookie. With OTAs rolling and the season creeping closer, expect Bech’s deal to get done soon—but not without some serious haggling over those guaranteed dollars.
