49ers Setting The Early Pace At Signing Draft Picks

The San Francisco 49ers are ahead of the curve at signing rookie draft picks after inking fifth-round linebacker Scott McKillop and seventh-round defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois to four-year contracts, the team announced today. Other than the Detroit Lions signing top overall pick Matthew Stafford prior to the NFL Draft, McKillop and Jean-Francois are the first two draft picks to sign their rookie deals. “It says a lot about these young men that they have made it a priority to get their contract negotiations out of the way early,” 49ers General Manager Scot McCloughan said in a statement. “Now, they have the ability to focus solely on helping to make this team better and starting their professional careers off on the right foot. The cooperation we received from their agents was tremendous.” At the University of Pittsburgh, McKillop was a two-time Big East Conference Player of the Year who registered 345 career tackles, 28 1/2 tackles for losses, eight sacks and three interceptions. At LSU, Jean-Francois recorded 56 career tackles, 5 1/2 sacks and three fumble recoveries. The pair of signings leave the 49ers with five more rookie deals to negotiate.