The Green Bay Packers answered one of the team’s big contract question marks ahead of training camp, signing second-round pick Anthony Belton and avoiding a camp holdout, the team announced Friday.
Belton, who reported to training camp with the rest of the rookie class on Friday, was the last of the Packers’ 2025 draft class to sign a rookie deal. Second-round picks across the NFL were late to sign this year after the Houston Texans gave Jayden Higgins a fully guaranteed four-year deal, the first of its kind. The signing created a standoff for most NFL teams as second-round picks held firm on increasing the percentage of guaranteed money, and, in some cases, matched Higgins’ fully guaranteed deal.
Belton, an offensive lineman out of North Carolina State, was the 54th overall pick in the 2025 draft. Signing a contract Friday means he will miss no time during training camp.
As recently as Wednesday, only two of the 32 picks made in the second round had signed rookie deals. However, many deals are getting done now with training camp nearing. Players picked both before and after Belton agreed to deals, likely helping the Packers and Belton’s representatives land on an agreeable percentage of guaranteed money in his deal.
Belton is expected to get reps at both offensive tackle and guard during training camp. It’s possible he’ll enter the competition to start at right guard, and he could end up being a valuable swing tackle option as a rookie.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers and Anthony Belton avoid holdout, second-round pick signs rookie deal
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
