#rookie-contracts

#rookie-contracts

Caitlin Clark and her army of fans are the WNBA's most valuable business asset. Not the most valuable player (at least not yet) ... but business asset. Clark's arrival in the spring of 2024 sent the league's television ratings, attendance, media rights, sponsorships and franchise evaluations soaring. Overnight, billionaires were fighting to pay $250 million for teams of their own. Clark offered more than just logo-3 highlights. She gave the league hope.

The NFL Players Association, reeling from criminal investigations into misused funds, resignations at the top and unapproved strip club expenditures, badly needed a win this summer. It found one -- in NFL ownership's couch cushions. The players received a substantial windfall in the second round of this year's NFL draft, benefiting from fully guaranteed contracts for seven players in the round -- and potentially an eighth once Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (the 36th overall pick) signs his deal.

"The team is expected to start their summer practices with Henderson still not under contract. He is the final rookie to be signed, and based on the latest developments with Chargers' rookie receiver Tre Harris, it might become more challenging to get a deal done with the running back than Vrabel and Co. hoped for."

"The Miami Dolphins signed seven of their eight draft picks Friday morning ahead of the start of rookie minicamp."