Making a 53-man roster is a life-changing experience for any football player who makes it to the NFL. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-round pick or a college free agent. Whether you’re convinced you’re making it or not, to be a part of an active NFL roster knowing your career is just getting started is a big moment.
Even for 49th-overall draft pick Keeanu Benton, the big defensive lineman out of Wisconsin who certainly had no cause for concern regarding his own roster spot. He had his first two years’ salary guaranteed and a part of his third-year salary locked in as well, over 58 percent of the total value of his rookie contract.